Bangalore (officially known as Bengaluru), is the capital of Karnataka, India. Considering that its equivalent USDA hardiness zone is between 12 and 13, it’s ideal for growing all manner of produce! Below is a list of fruit trees that grow in Bangalore. If you live near there, be sure to try out some of the glorious offerings that’ll ripen this season!
What are the Top Fruit Trees that Grow in Bangalore?
This region’s gorgeous climate is ideal for countless different species. In fact, you can grow hundreds of different cultivars, depending on how much space you have and how much light your yard gets. You could grow even more if you had a greenhouse to play with, or if you decided to try growing some species indoors.
Below are 25 of the best fruit trees to grow in and around the Bangalore area. Remember that there are many, many different types of tree to choose from that fall under these categories. For example, there are over 7,500 different apple varieties out there!
1. Mango
One of the most common (and most beloved) fruits happens to thrive in Bangalore. Do you love mangoes? Then you’ll be happy to know that these trees are self-fertile. This means that you only need to grow one tree to harvest these wonderful fruits.
2. Custard Apple
Also known as “sweetsops”, these fruit are also self-fertile! If you’re trying to cultivate a garden full of delicious fruits, aim to grow as many self-fertile trees and bushes as possible. That way you only need to plant one of each, which creates great diversity without taking up too much space.
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3. Soursop
These fruits are cousins to sweetsops, and have similar sun and soil requirements. They both need semi-fertile, moist soil, and can do well in either full sun or partial shade. Choose the best cultivars for the soil and sun you have available in order to help them thrive. Also be sure to choose companion plants with similar sun/soil requirements so they can boost one another’s productivity.
4. Pomegranate
You’ll need to give your pomegranate tree(s) plenty of sunshine in order for them to produce fruit properly. They need at least 6 to 8 hours of sun a day, so either plant them in the sunniest part of your yard, or in pots that you can move around to catch sunshine as needed. You can grow these indoors or outside, and they’re self-fertile, so you only need one. That said, you’ll get more abundant, healthier fruit if you plant two of them.
Related Piece: What do Pomegranate Seeds Taste Like?
5. Avocado
Avocado is known as “butter fruit” in many regions in India. These trees grow beautifully in the Bangalore area because of the sun and heat, offering growers tons of delicious fruits that are packed with healthy fats and nutrients. Although they’re technically self-fertile, they do better with another avocado tree nearby to pollinate them. These babies grow really big, so aim to plant tree #2 about 20 to 30 feet away from the first one.
6. Date
If you have a ton of sunshine in your yard, definitely grow a couple of date trees. Unlike the others mentioned above, however, dates are not self-fertile. Instead, you’ll need both a male and a female tree in order to produce fruit. Furthermore, most female date trees need to be pollinated by hand, as few insects are drawn to their flowers.
7. Starfruit
Add these carambola trees to your list of self-fertile varieties! They create juicy, luscious fruits that are as pretty as they are delicious. And since they’re self-pollinating, you only need to grow one in your magical garden of fruity wonders.
8. Jackfruit
Every vegan’s dream meat alternative happens to grow wonderfully in Bangalore! They need a lot of sun, and very well-drained soil to grow well: if they’re watered too often, their roots will rot and die off. Add one of these self-fertile beauties to your tree list if you’re aiming for species diversity! And have you seen the size of these fruits? One single tree should provide you without enough fruits to make enough pulled “porkless” tacos to feed you for years.
Further Reading: What Does BBQ Jackfruit Taste Like?
9. Sapota
These evergreen trees are very heavy feeders, so you’ll need to amend your soil with a lot of well-aged compost or manure. Like pomegranates, they are self-fertile, but will produce much more fruit if allowed to cross-pollinate with another. As a result, it’s best to plant two within 15 feet of each other. Once mature, they’ll create bushels of sweet, egg-shaped fruits for you to enjoy.
10. Tamarind
If you love the taste of tamarind, be sure to grow a couple of these trees in your yard as well. Although a single tree will pollinate itself, the fruit won’t be as healthy or vigorous as it could be with a second tree around to cross-pollinate. They need a lot of sun, but although they also need a ton of water when first planted, they can (and prefer) drier soils when mature.
11. Falsa
The little, round fruits from falsa (aka “phalsa”) trees have a pleasantly acidic sweetness to them. They’re most often used to create frozen sherbet desserts, or lemonade-type drinks. These fruits’ astringent, cooling qualities make them ideal to eat (or drink) on hot days, as they’ll help to regulate body temperature.
12. Coconut
Where would we be without coconut milk and oil? If you love coconut, be sure to grow one of these beauties on your property. They’re self-fertile, so you only need one, but consider what type of tree you’d like to grow. Since standard coconut trees can grow over 100 feet tall, you may be interested in growing a dwarf variety instead.
13. Fig
Got sun and well-draining soil? Then add a couple of fig trees to your garden! You can choose from green, purple, or black fruits, and grow them right in the ground or in pots. In fact, if you choose the latter option, you can move them indoors during inclement weather.
Read This Next: What Does a Fig Taste Like?
14. Apple
Hundreds of different apple tree species can grow in and around the Bangalore area! The ample sunshine and heat allows these juicy, delicious fruits to grow easily, with few pests. Kashmiri apples will thrive well, but any cultivar other than northern European, Canadian, or northern USA varieties should thrive.
15. Lemon
Just about any type of citrus tree will grow well in your region, but lemon trees in particular will thrive beautifully. Balaji lemons are some of the top producers, and will be happiest in a super-sunny spot in your yard or balcony. Plant yours in a container if you’re in a small space, or directly in the yard if you have ample property. Although these are also self-fertile, consider planting two for healthy cross-pollination.
16. Guava
Although there are some self-fertile guava varieties, you’ll get more fruit if you have two trees. Honey and bumble bees love the flowers, and will happily buzz between trees to pollinate them. Offer them some native wildflowers in between, and you’ll have more delicious guavas than you’ll know what to do with.
Learn More Here: What do Guava Fruits Taste Like?
17. Banana
Like coconut trees, bananas are self-fertile and can be grown alone. Also like coconuts, they’ll often grow incredibly tall, which may be overwhelming for a backyard farmer. If you only have a small amount of space to work with, aim for a dwarf variety instead of a standard type.
18. Apricot
Many stone fruits (like peaches) are self-fertile, so you only need one apricot tree to bear fruit. Of course, you’ll have better luck with a second tree nearby, and you’ll need a bit of patience. This is because apricot trees take at least two to three years to start fruiting. Once they do, however, you’ll have plenty of delicious apricots to enjoy fresh, or dry for later snacking.
Looking for more inspiration? Read this next: 10 Spices that Go with Apricots
19. Papaya
If your soil is well-drained and quite dry, consider planting a couple of papaya trees. They have such shallow roots that they can’t tolerate wet conditions, but if your yard is bright, sunny, and a bit on the sandy side, they’ll do just fine. Plant two for cross-pollination, or talk to your local garden center about self-fertile varieties.
20. Lychee
Nothing quite compares to lychee fruit, does it? You peel back the dragon’s egg-looking skin and find the luscious, semi-translucent flesh beneath. These are absolute joys to eat on hot summer days, and you’ll be able to harvest plenty if you grow one or two of these trees. Like most self-fertile varieties, they will produce fruit on their own, but that fruit will be much better if there’s another tree within 20 feet.
21. Mulberry
Mulberry trees are great for small spaces because they don’t grow very tall. These are also wonderful options for smaller yards, because they grow so well in containers. These trees are generally either male or female, so you’ll need to ensure one of each if you want to get fruit. These berries come in red, purple, and white varieties, but the black ones are tastiest. Best of all, these trees can thrive in partial shade, which is wonderful if your yard isn’t super sunny.
Further Reading: 4 Fruit Trees that Grow in Shade
22. Peach
Since peach trees are also self-fertile, these are definitely great additions to your multi-fruit garden plans. Dwarf varieties can be grown in-ground or in pots, and will provide enough fruits for you to share with family and friends. Use the fruits in smoothies, lassi drinks, canned in preserves, or raw.
23. Jamun
Jamun plum trees are also self-fertile, and need a lot of sunshine and well-nourished soil in order to thrive.
Related Article: 22 Fruits that are Black in Color
24. Buddha’s Hand
These weird-looking citrus fruits need a lot of direct sunshine in order to thrive. They also need well-draining soil, whether you’re planting them in-ground, or in pots. They fruit within a couple of years, which is great, but they will NOT do well indoors. Also, avoid planting them at the height of summertime. They need to be planted in spring or autumn, so their root systems can develop well during cooler, wetter weather.
25. Breadfruit
Would you be surprised if we told you that breadfruit trees are also self-fertile? Well, prepare to get excited, because they are! That said, like most other self-pollinating plants, they create bigger, healthier, tastier fruit with a second tree nearby for pollen donation. As a side note, did you know that breadfruits are related to jackfruits and mulberries? Now you know, and can mention this fun fact to your friends to impress and delight them.
As mentioned earlier, these are just some of the top fruit trees that grow in Bangalore. There are many more to choose from, provided that you get a cultivar that is known to thrive in your area.
Whichever tree(s) you choose to grow, make sure to pick varieties that are well suited to the conditions you have available. When in doubt, talk to the staff at your local nursery, as they’ll be able to recommend some that’ll thrive in your care.
Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
