Edible Landscape
Our area gets about 700 (550-850) chill hours or time below 45 degrees. This number is important for many fruit/nut trees and some berries, too. This list was made for Williamson County and surrounding areas.
I will add to this page as I get more information and have the time!
Fruit Trees
Plums
These are all Japanese, self-pollinating plum trees, except for the Bruce and Morris. These need a pollinator to produce. Even though the others are self-pollinating, you will get a higher yield with cross-pollination.
Bruce is a large, red, sweet plum. It is typically pollinated with the ‘Methley’, although it can be cross-pollinated with other Japanese cultivars. Bruce blooms in early spring, with the fruit ripening near the first of June. The chill requirements are around 500 hours.
Methley is a sweet, mild, and juicy purple plum that blooms in early spring and ripens near the first of June. It requires a chill of around 250 hours.
Morris is a large, purple-ish fruit with red, sweet flesh. It's good eaten right off the tree or used in cooking. Recommended pollinators are 'Bruce', 'Santa Rosa', or 'Methley'. The fruit is ready in early June. The chill requirements are 650 to 700 hours.
Santa Rosa is a large, purple plum with amber flesh that is sweet and subtly tart. It blooms mid-season and ripens in late June. Due to its heavy production, Santa Rosa is a popular home and market variety. The chill requirements are about 400 hours.
Ozark Premier is a cross between ‘Methley’ and Burbank’ with red skin and yellow flesh. Comments say the flavor is slightly tart but not as good as others. It ripens in late June. 'Methley' is a good pollinator. It does require approximately 800 chill hours.
Allred is a tart, red plum used in preserves and jellies. It blooms in early spring and requires about 600 chill hours.
Persimmons
Eureka is a heavy-producing, medium-sized, flat-shaped, high-quality, astringent fruit. It is a small, self-fruitful tree. Fruit typically contains seeds and ripens in late October to early November. ‘Eureka’ is known as the best commercial variety in Texas.
Hachiya is a productive tree with large, cone-shaped, seedless, astringent persimmons. The tree is self-fruitful, and the fruit ripens in late September.
Fuyu has medium-sized, non-astringent, flattened fruit. It is self-fruitful and is big on the market. Fuyu ripens in late September. It is somewhat susceptible to freeze damage.
Izu bears medium-sized, round, non-astringent fruit. It is more cold hardy than ‘Fuyu ‘and ripens in late September. The 'Izu' is a self-fruitful dwarf tree.
**Astringency is the dry, puckering mouthfeel that high levels of soluble tannins produce and are present until the fruit completely ripens.
Peaches
More info coming soon.
Belle of Georgia
Elberta
La Feleciana
Sam Houston
Redskin
Loring
Nectarines
Not recommended because of disease and insect issues, but these would be the best varieties if you would like to try.
More info coming soon.
Karla Rose
Rose Princess
Arm King
Pears
Watch for fireblight and cotton root rot (soil feed with cornmeal to help prevent). Europeans and European hybrids are more tolerant of fireblight.
More info coming soon.
Keiffer
Le Conte
Ayers
Maxine
Orient
Moonglow
Apples
More info coming soon.
Gala
Mollie’s Delicious
Starkcrimson
Red Delicious
Golden Delicious
Ein Sheimer
Holland
Jerseymac
Fuji
Granny Smith
Pink Lady
Figs
The sap from figs contains latex. Some people may develop an itchy rash (contact dermatitis) from handling fig branches or exposing skin to the sap.
More info coming soon.
Alma
Celeste
LSU Purple
Texas Everbearing/Brown Turkey
Jujube aka Chinese Date Tree
They are sweet with the texture of an apple and have a date-like quality when dried. Almost disease and pest free. Easy and hardy. The problem with these trees is sprouting from the roots. The thorny sprouts must be cut off.
More info coming soon.
Chico
Honey Jar
Li
Lang
Shanxi Li
Sherwood
Sugar Cane
Winter Delight
Cherries
Escarpment Black Cherry grows well here. Others do not perform well.
More info coming soon.
Loquat
It's an evergreen, tropical-looking tree that sets fruit in the fall and ripens in the spring. Unfortunately, it could die if the temperature drops below 10 degrees. I removed mine after the February 2021 freeze. It froze to the ground but was trying to come back from the roots.
Pomegranate
More info coming soon.
Wonderful is the most popular variety here.
Avocado
Needs protection from frost.
More info coming soon.
Hass
More info coming soon.
Citrus
Needs protection from frost.
More info coming soon.
Olive
Needs protection from frost.
More info coming soon.
Arberquina
Mission
Mulberry
More info coming soon.
Nut Trees
More info coming soon.
Pecan
Walnut
Berries
More info coming soon.
Blueberries
These berries struggle with our heat and pH.
Blackberries
Grapes
Raspberries
Strawberries
Other Edibles
I'm not going to mention all of the common Vegetables and herbs at this time!
Passion Vine
Mexican Mint Marigold
Barbados Cherry