5 Productive Drought Tolerant Fruit Trees
These drought tolerant fruit trees will help you save on water.
Across the nation, 2024 was on average the warmest year on record. It was also full of extremes. Much of the central Appalachians, Southwest, Northern Rockies, and Northern Plains faced extreme droughts while parts of the Southeast and West Coast experienced high levels of rainfall. These extreme weather patterns had me thinking more about how we could diversify and future-proof our homestead systems. While no crops are completely drought-proof, there are some incredible drought tolerant fruit trees available.

Why Plant Drought Tolerant Fruit Trees?
To say that I’m concerned about the future would be an understatement. It was a dry, hot summer in our area. Our gardens produced poorly, we had to carefully manage our off-grid rainwater supply, and I saw fewer and fewer insects as the summer wore on. Despite this, some of our perennial fruit crops performed admirably.
As we cope with a changing climate and unpredictable future, adding more drought-tolerant perennials and more variety to our homestead can help us keep the harvests coming.
These drought resistant plants are also great options for folks who live on city water. Once established, these trees rarely need water, helping you to be gentler on the planet and save money on your water bill.
Keep in mind that almost all fruit trees will produce better if you have two or more for pollination. This is even true of “self-pollinated” varieties.
5 Drought Tolerant Fruit Trees
Here are five of my favorite options for drought tolerant fruit trees. I live in the central Appalachians in USDA hardiness zone 7a.

Figs
Hardiness Zones 6-10 depending on the variety
Some fig varieties may be grown in pots and overwintered indoors in cold climates
Figs were the stars of our homestead this season. While other plants and fruit trees took a beating, these stellar plants just kept on chugging. They looked lush and produced admirably despite being planted in one of the driest, sunniest spots on our hill during a summer with extreme drought.
We planted the figs in 2019 when we first moved into the cabin. They were a couple of tiny plants from Lowes. It took them a couple of years to produce, but now they fruit without fail. It’s hard to believe how fast they have grown, with no watering and little maintenance.
I’m hoping to propagate more figs from cuttings in 2025. Watch for an article on that process in the future.

Mulberries
Hardiness Zones 4-8
Mulberries are prolific producers. Their berries look a bit like blackberries but have a slightly different, sweet flavor. They’re great for pies, preserves, and desserts. Birds find them attractive, too. They’re a great option for chicken runs as the chickens will make use of any berries you allow to fall to the ground.
These beautiful berry trees are relatively drought tolerant once established. Young, newly planted trees do best with regular watering. In extreme drought, they may not be as productive and tend to produce smaller berries. However, the trees themselves handle the drought well and bounce back easily. They’re also pest and disease resistant.
You can also harvest and use young mulberry leaves. They have a mild flavor and are great for tea or cooked greens. In some cultures, it’s common to use them as dumpling wrappers.

Grapes
Hardiness Zones 6-9
There are three types of grapes people typically cultivate: American grapes (Vitis labrusca), European (Vitis vinifera), and French Hybrids (a cross between European and American). American grapes are the most cold-hardy and disease resistant. Like the iconic Concord variety, they’re excellent for fresh-eating, preserves, and pies.
European grapes are the most drought tolerant and what we’re focused on for this article. These are the most widely grown grapes and make up most of the world’s wine production. While they’re known for wine-production, they still make excellent ‘table grapes’ for fresh-eating.
Once established, European grapes develop deep root systems that allow them to thrive even in drought. American growers have reported minimal losses even in the driest seasons. Drought may even have desirable effects, some growers report drier conditions can enhance the wine’s flavor.
Keep in mind, they’ll still need water when they’re young. European grapes have an upright habit, but you’ll also need to build a sturdy trellis.

Jujubes
Hardiness Zones 6-9
Jujubes or red dates are highly productive, adaptable, heat and drought resistance fruit trees. They’re important fruits in parts of Asia where they’re valued for their health benefits and flavor. Fresh, the fruits are sweet and slightly crunchy. If you dry them, the flavor becomes concentrated, and the fruit is chewy.
I don’t have any experience with these yet, but they seem like a solid option to explore for those homesteaders worried about potential drought conditions. Some varieties are better adapted to cold climates than others, so research a variety for your homestead carefully.

Persimmon
Hardiness Zones 4-9
Asian and American persimmons are drought tolerant once established. Generally, people choose to cultivate Asian persimmon varieties as they produce larger, more uniform fruit. American persimmons (Diospyros virginiana) are small but have a concentrated flavor.
We don’t currently have any persimmon cultivars, but we have plenty of wild American persimmons growing on the hill. They fruited well last year, and while they are too tall for us to pick, the chickens love gobbling them up when they hit the ground and split.
You can enjoy persimmons fresh or use them in baking, smoothies, preserves, and sauces. You can also dry or freeze persimmons for later use.
What About Fruit that Isn’t Listed as Drought Tolerant?
You won’t find peaches on any drought tolerant fruit tree list and yet, our big peach still put on a decent harvest last season. It’s planted in a moister area of our yard, but still receives little supplemental water. Its harvest during such a severe drought pleasantly surprised me.
On the flip side, I frequently see blackberries, raspberries, and other Rubus species listed as drought-tolerant and have never had that experience. In drier years without supplemental irrigation, their harvest is minimal. Without plenty of rain, the berries are smaller and less sweet.
Given these examples, I think it’s important to experiment with what works on your homestead. Even if a plant isn’t listed as drought resistant, you may still make it work. Can you plant near a drainage ditch or where you empty animal waters for supplemental moisture? You could also try planting in a spot that receives some afternoon shade, protecting it during the hottest part of the day.
Don’t let other’s thoughts stop you from planting.
Bonus: Drought Tolerant Fruits Trees, Nuts, and Perennials
Here are a few other options for drought tolerant perennials. Note that hardiness zone recommendations don’t apply to all varieties. For example, some rosemary varieties can survive in zone 6-7 with winter protection, but others are only hardy to zones 8-11.
- Almond Trees (zones 5-9)
- Prickly Pear Cactus (zones 4-9)
- Moringa (zones 9-11)
- Olives (zones 7-11)
- Dragon Fruit or Pitaya (zones 10-11)
- Kei Apple (zones 9-11)
- Macadamia (zones 9-11)
- Loquat (zones 8-11)
- Rosemary (zones 7-11)
- Jerusalem Artichoke (zones 2-9)
- Echinacea (zones 3-9)
- Oregano (zones 4-10)
- Sage (zones 4-10)
My favorite plants are the low-maintenance ones. Whether you’re worried about droughts or just don’t want to water your perennials as often, these five fruit trees may be great options. What fruit trees will you add to your homestead this year?
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