A Resource Guide to Low-Chill Fruit Trees

Lotusland Orchard Cultivars
In the October 2008 issue of Pacific Horticulture, Virginia Hayes shared with readers the program underway at Ganna Walska Lotusland to restore the garden’s orchards with fruit trees that are particularly adapted to Santa Barbara’s mild winters. The following list represents the current inventory of low-chill fruit trees that have proven themselves in Santa Barbara (Sunset zone 24, USDA zone 10). Gardeners throughout Southern and coastal California may find that trees on this list will produce reliably in their gardens as well.

Apples (Malus sylvestris var. domestica)
‘Anna’
‘Beverly Hills’
‘Ein Shemer’
‘Fuji’
‘Gordon’
‘Pettingill’
‘Pink Lady’
‘Red Fuji’
‘Tropical Beauty’
‘White Winter Pearmain’

Apricots (Prunus armeniaca)
‘Gold Kist’
‘Katy’
‘Lorna’
‘Newcastle’
‘Royal’

Figs (Ficus carica)
‘Black Mission’
‘Flanders’
‘Improved Brown Turkey’
‘Kadota’

Novel Hybrids
Dapple Dandy Pluot (Prunus armeniaca x P. x domestica)
Flavor Queen Pluot
Flavor Delight Aprium (P. armeniaca x P. x domestica)
‘Delight’ cherry plum (P. avium x P. x domestica)
‘Sprite’ cherry plum

Cherries (Prunus avium)
‘Craig’s Crimson’
‘Stella’

Eur...