Fruit Trees for Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is located in USDA zone 6, which is in the Mid-Atlantic part of the country. Due to the state's moderate winters and warm summers, a number of fruit trees grow quite well. From apples to peaches, there is a great variety of fruit trees to choose from when thinking about what to grow in your home garden.

Stone Fruit Trees

"Stone fruit" trees are ones that bear fruit with a large, hard seed inside. Common stone fruit trees that grow well in Pennsylvania are peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots and cherries. Most stone fruit trees grow best in warm climates, because they could become injured from severe cold. Even though Pennsylvania sometimes has harsh winter weather, these trees tend to be hardy. When planting these types of trees, try to place them in an area where they are shielded from high winds.

Non-stone Fruit Trees

Non-stone fruit bearing trees--such as apples and pears--tend to be a little hardier in Pennsylvania. These trees are more tolerant of colder weather than the stone fruit trees. As a home gardener, you can grow a variety of apples and pears that you might not find in your grocery store. The biggest consideration for home gardeners growing apples and pears is disease and pest management. Both will require attention on a regular basis.

Vines, Brambles and Bushes

While not officially trees, there are a great variety of vines, brambles and bushes you can grow that bear fruit. Grapes, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, gooseberries and hardy kiwis are all great choices for growing fruit in Pennsylvania. Many of these fruits--particularly raspberries and blackberries--need minimal attention to produce an abundance of fruit.

Fruit Trees Can Grow In Pennsylvania?

Several kinds of fruit trees can grow in Pennsylvania, from sweet cherries to many kinds of apples. Pome fruit trees are apple (Malus genus) and pear (Pyrus genus) trees, and they grow quite well in Pennsylvania. Apple varieties that can be grown in Pennsylvania include the Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Gala, Fuji, Jonagold and Braeburn apples. While the Pennsylvanian climate accommodates healthy pome fruit tree growth, apple and pear trees require a disciplined pesticide regime in order to produce a healthy crop. This genus of deciduous or evergreen trees produces beautiful blossoms and fruits with soft flesh that surround a hard pit. The chokecherry tree (Prunus virginiana) grows in Pennsylvania. People tend to steer away from the fruit because of the name, but chokecherries are edible and can be made into many food items.