By Enmanuel Vasquez, FruitTree Direct. Updated October 2026.
Quick answer
Self-pollinating (self-fertile) fruit trees can produce fruit with just one tree. The best options are figs (Chicago Hardy, Violette de Bordeaux), Methley plum, Elberta peach, Fuyu persimmon, Pakistan and Illinois Everbearing mulberries, Salavatski pomegranate, and Sunshine Blue, Pink Lemonade, Bluecrop and Chandler blueberries. Choose the one rated for your USDA zone. Apples like Honeycrisp are not self-pollinating and need a second variety nearby.
The 12 self-pollinating fruit trees at a glance
| # | Tree | USDA zones | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago Hardy fig | 5 to 10 | Cold winters | From $57.95 |
| 2 | Violette de Bordeaux fig | 6 to 10 | Pots and flavor | From $59.95 |
| 3 | Methley plum | 5 to 9 | Warm, low-chill areas | From $89.95 |
| 4 | Elberta peach | 5 to 8 | Areas with cold winters | From $83.95 |
| 5 | Fuyu persimmon | 7 to 10 | Low-fuss fall fruit | From $104.95 |
| 6 | Pakistan mulberry | 7 to 10 | Hot summers, fast fruit | From $77.95 |
| 7 | Illinois Everbearing mulberry | 4 to 9 | A long harvest | From $67.95 |
| 8 | Salavatski pomegranate | 7 to 10 | Heat and poor soil | From $77.95 |
| 9 | Sunshine Blue blueberry | 5 to 10 | Containers, warm winters | From $44.95 |
| 10 | Pink Lemonade blueberry | 4 to 8 | Edible landscaping | From $59.95 |
| 11 | Bluecrop blueberry | 4 to 7 | Heavy, reliable crops | From $44.95 |
| 12 | Chandler blueberry | 4 to 7 | Very large berries | From $44.95 |
1. Chicago Hardy fig: best for cold winters
The benchmark fig for cold climates, rated for zones 5 to 10. It fruits on new wood, so it can regrow and fruit the same summer after a hard winter knocks it back. Ships now as a live plant in a 1-gallon pot. See Chicago Hardy
2. Violette de Bordeaux fig: best for pots and flavor
Naturally compact at about 6 to 10 ft, with small, almost black figs and an intense berry-jam flavor. Rated for zones 6 to 10. Ships bare root in spring. See Violette de Bordeaux
3. Methley plum: best for warm, low-chill areas
A fully self-fertile Japanese plum with low chill needs, about 150 to 250 hours, so it can fruit in the warm South. Sweet, red-fleshed plums in early summer. Susceptible to bacterial spot in humid weather. See Methley plum
4. Elberta peach: best where winters are cold enough
The classic American freestone peach for fresh eating and canning. Self-fertile and vigorous, it can bear within 2 to 3 years. It needs about 850 chill hours, so it suits areas with real winters, not the warm South. See Elberta peach
5. Fuyu persimmon: best low-fuss fall fruit
Non-astringent, so you eat it firm and crisp like an apple. Self-fertile, rated for zones 7 to 10, with glossy leaves and orange fall fruit. See Fuyu persimmon
6. Pakistan mulberry: best for hot summers and fast fruit
Grows some of the longest mulberries, typically 2.5 to 3.5 inches, sweet and mild. Loves long, hot summers in zones 7 to 10 and can fruit within a year or two. See Pakistan mulberry
7. Illinois Everbearing mulberry: best for a long harvest
Ripens sweet, blackberry-like fruit over several weeks instead of all at once. Generally self-fertile and rated for zones 4 to 9; it grows into a large shade tree, often 25 to 35 ft. See Illinois Everbearing
8. Salavatski pomegranate: best for heat and poor soil
A cold-tolerant pomegranate selection often listed for zones 7 to 10, with full-sized, sweet-tart fruit. It blooms on new wood, so it can fruit the same year after winter dieback. See Salavatski
9. Sunshine Blue blueberry: best for containers and warm winters
A semi-dwarf southern highbush that needs only about 150 chill hours and stays 3 to 4 ft tall. Rated for zones 5 to 10. Needs acidic soil, which is easy to give it in a pot. See Sunshine Blue
10. Pink Lemonade blueberry: best for edible landscaping
Real pink berries, sweet and mild, plus spring flowers and reddish fall color. Rated for zones 4 to 8, best in zone 6 and milder. Ships in a 1-gallon pot. See Pink Lemonade
11. Bluecrop blueberry: best for heavy, reliable crops
The northern highbush standard for cold zones 4 to 7. Self-fertile, with bigger crops when another variety blooms nearby. See Bluecrop
12. Chandler blueberry: best for very large berries
Known for exceptionally large blueberries over a long harvest of about 4 to 6 weeks. Rated for zones 4 to 7, and an ideal partner for Bluecrop. See Chandler
Partly self-fertile: better in pairs
- Kieffer and Orient pears may crop alone in some regions, but harvests are heavier when they are planted together. Read our Kieffer vs Orient comparison.
- Arbequina olive can set fruit with its own pollen under some conditions, and yields improve with a second olive nearby.
Not self-pollinating
Honeycrisp apple needs a different apple variety with overlapping bloom nearby to set fruit.
Frequently asked questions
What does self-pollinating mean for fruit trees?
A self-pollinating, or self-fertile, fruit tree can set fruit with its own pollen, so you only need one tree. Many self-fertile trees still crop more heavily with a second variety nearby.
What is the easiest self-pollinating fruit tree to grow?
A fig is one of the easiest. Chicago Hardy is self-fertile, rated for zones 5 to 10, and forgiving of cold winters because it fruits on new wood.
What is the best self-pollinating fruit tree for a small yard or pot?
Violette de Bordeaux fig, naturally compact at about 6 to 10 ft, or Sunshine Blue blueberry, which stays 3 to 4 ft and grows well in a container.
Are apple trees self-pollinating?
Most are not. Honeycrisp, for example, needs a different apple variety with overlapping bloom planted nearby.
Do self-pollinating trees produce more with two trees?
Often, yes. Blueberries in particular tend to give bigger crops and larger berries when two varieties bloom at the same time, such as Bluecrop and Chandler.
Not sure which tree fits your area? Find your zone with our Find Your Growing Zone tool, then browse all our fruit trees.