The two most important considerations when choosing a temperate fruit variety are its pollination and chill hour requirements. Since Southern California has such a mild climate, care must be taken to choose deciduous fruit trees appropriate for our mild winters. We have compiled an extensive (although not exhaustive) list of varieties suitable for our area. Please feel free to let us know of any other varieties that we missed that also do well in our climate (Contact Information).

Also check with your local nursery (San Diegans can check the San Diego Gardener nursery lists), they may know of some varieties that do well in your area. Another good source of information is your neighbors. Find out what seems to grow well in your neighborhood - these might be good choices for your own backyard orchard.