Tender & Exotic Fruits
Tender fruits and exotic fruits are not just reserved for those with sunshine and frost-free climates all year round.
Many tender and exotic fruit plants can actually be grown here in the UK - and it's much easier than you might think with help from our very own practical tender and exotic fruit after-care instructions.
Tender and exotic fruits grown at home bring a little ray of sunshine into your life - and your cuisine! What could be better than picking a fresh lemon or lime for your G & T and accompanying it with some home-grown olives? Or how about plucking a fresh, juicy grapefruit off the tree for a mouth-watering breakfast treat? It's all possible and much easier than you think.
Citrus and Olive trees are just two examples of the many types of exotic fruits that will grow and thrive in your garden during the summer months. As tender plants, they will need protection from the worst weather that the average British winter can throw at you. But did you know that other so-called exotic fruit plants such as Passion Fruits, Pomegranates, Loquats and Pineapple Guavas will actually prove hardy throughout the year in all but the most northerly UK gardens? Yes, it's absolutely true - all it takes is a little care and some solid preparation, and the benefits can be reaped (or harvested!) for years to come.
And what's more, you don't need acres of space or a grandiose heated glasshouse to house your exotic fruits. That's because many of the exotic fruits we list can be grown in pots or containers, with no special pruning required, making them even easier to grow and tend to throughout the changing seasons.
Calamondin Orange Tree
Citrus cross between mandarin orange and kumquat, with highly scented flowers and edible fruit. Usually grown here for its ornamental appeal.
Available Now
Supplied as a pot grown plant approximately 2 - 3 feet (60 - 90 cm) tall including pot.
Canteloupe Melon Seed 'Charentais'
A very old variety. Medium-sized fruits have a pale green-grey skin and very juicy deep orange flesh. One of the easiest varieties for the novice.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of 6 seeds.
Chocolate Vine
A rambling and scrambling climber that produces pretty chocolate-scented purple flowers that are followed by unusual sausage shaped fruits. Semi Evergreen.
Available Now
Supplied as a pot grown plant approximately 2 feet (60 cm) tall including pot.
Goji Berry Plant
First introduced to the UK in the 1600's, so not quite the new superfruit that many believe they are! Fresh fruit is gorgeously sweet. Easy to grow and can even be used for hedging.
Available Now
Supplied as potted plant approximately 8" - 10" (20 - 25 cm) tall including pot
Japanese Bitter Orange Plant
Not actually a Citrus - but similar! Winter-hardy with small orange fruits, great for making marmalade and juice. Thorns are also good for treating toothache!
Available Now
Supplied as a pot grown plant approximately 6" - 8" (15cm - 20cm) tall including pot.
Kiwi 'Issai'
Baby Kiwi / Hardy Kiwi. Smooth, thin skinned, green fruits dotted white. Has a huge cropping potential with 1000 fruits in a year not unusual. Self Fertile.
Available Now
Supplied as a pot grown plant approximately1 - 2 feet (30 - 60 cm) tall including pot.
Kiwi 'Jumbo'
Baby Kiwi / Hardy Kiwi. The largest fruiting variety of all the Baby Kiwis. Produces oblong, juicy, yellow green fruits in late September. Female (requires a male pollinator).
Available Now
Supplied as a pot grown plant approximately 2 feet (60 cm) tall including pot.
Kiwi 'Ken's Red'
Baby Kiwi / Hardy Kiwi. Large red skinned fruits have juicy red flesh making this variety of Baby Kiwi stand out from the rest of the crowd. Female.
Available Now
Supplied as a pot grown plant approximately 2 feet (60 cm) tall including pot.
Kiwi 'Weiki'
Baby Kiwi / Hardy Kiwi. An excellent pollinator for female Baby Kiwis, with the added benefit of being extremely ornamental in its own right. Male.
Available Now
Supplied as a pot grown plant approximately 2 feet (60 cm) tall including pot.
Kumquat Tree
A small but characteristic fruit. Orange, oval, sweet skin with a sour flesh that is best eaten together. Half hardy and evergreen.
Available Now
Supplied as a bushy grafted tree approximately 2 - 3 feet (60 - 90 cm) tall including pot.
Mandarin Tree
A medium sized mandarin fruit with seeds. Easy to peel, dark orange flesh with fine texture and sweet rich flavour, can be used to make marmalade.
Available Now
Supplied as a bushy grafted tree approximately 2 - 3 feet (60 - 90 cm) tall including pot.
Mouse Melon Seed
Sometimes known as the Mexican Sour Gherkin. Tiny watermelon-shaped fruits are produced in abundance all summer long. Perfect for salads, pickling or desserts.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of 10 seeds.
Olive Tree
A beautiful tree in its own right; unusual silver grey leaves and gnarled stems. After pretty yellow flowers late spring green fruits form. Self-fertile.
Available Now
Supplied as a single stem pot grown tree approximately 2 - 3 feet (60 - 90 cm) tall including pot.
Tamarillo Tree Tomato Plant
A perennial tomato with ruby red egg shaped fruits that are produced in late autumn and winter. Requires frost protection. Can be eaten raw, stewed or made in to jams and jellies.
Available Now
Supplied as pot grown plants approximately 4" (10 cm) tall.
Tamarillo Tree Tomato Seed
Not a tomato at all! Grows into a substantial tree that bears plum shaped fruits which are deep red in colour. More of a 'sweet' than a 'savoury'. Perennial in habit.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 10 seeds.
Watermelon Seed 'Charleston Gray'
Perfect for protected growing in the UK. Elongated fruits have a grey-green fairly thick skin; inside the flesh is pinky-orange and crisp to the bite.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of 8 seeds.
Cape Gooseberry
A papery husk hides the gorgeously sweet fruits of this lovely shrubby plant. Known by many names including the Golden Berry and Jam Fruit.
Available from APPROXIMATELY mid May
Supplied as compost block grown plants.
Exotic Fruits For Outdoors
A three tree collection consisting of a Peach, a Nectarine and an Apricot - perfect for bringing the 'exotic' to the garden. All Self Fertile.
Available from APPROXIMATELY mid November
Supplied as bare root trees pruned to approximately 3 - 4 feet (90 - 120 cm) tall including roots.
Kiwi 'Jenny'
Hen egg sized fruits are produced in abundance. A very vigorous climber with attractive stems and large green leaves. Self Fertile.
Available from APPROXIMATELY mid November
Supplied as a pot grown plant approximately 1 - 2 feet (30 - 60 cm) tall including pot.
Lemon Tree
Beautiful white flowers with a delicate purple tinge and a rich Citrus scent are followed by juicy fruits. There's nothing quite like a home grown lemon in your drink!
Currently Not Available To Purchase - Available from - SOLD OUT UNTIL NEXT YEAR - 2025
Supplied as a grafted semi standard tree approximately 2 - 3 feet (60 - 90 cm) tall including pot.
