6 Fruit Trees You Should Never Grow From Seed, According to Gardening Experts

close-up of ripe red cherries on cherry tree — Credit:
Getty Images

While many edible plants can sprout successfully from seed, some fruit trees are easier to grow from containers. The cores and pits of fruits don't always produce "true-to-type" plants, meaning the fruit looks and tastes different from the tree you planted. You'll also wait much longer for fruit from a seed-grown tree, which can take years to reach maturity.

Choosing a rootstock grafted with the fruit you want to grow allows for more predictable results and a quicker harvest. "The rootstock may be selected for features such as height control (e.g., a dwarfing rootstock that maintains a low height) or for enhanced disease resistance," says Damon Abdi, assistant professor of landscape horticulture at the LSU AgCenter. "By melding together the desirable features of a rootstock and a specific cultivar of fruit, a more consistent and manageable crop can be produced."

Turn your landscape into an edible masterpiece by growing these favorite fruits from grafting or propagation—and save your seed budget for your vegetable garden.

01 of 06

Apple Trees

Ripe apples hanging in a tree. Apples hanging on a tree branch at garden center. — Credit:
Luis Alvarez / Getty Images

It's tempting to plant seeds from an apple core in your backyard, but it's not that simple. After thousands of years of grafting and growing apple trees, you can't count on a seed to yield the fruit you want.

"Apple seeds are generally formed from cross-pollination, introducing genetics that yield plants that are different from the parent plant," says Abdi. "Grafting is a preferred method of growing apples, either through performing the graft yourself or purchasing plants that have already been grafted." While apple trees can grow as tall as 30 feet, those grafted to dwarfing rootstocks remain around 10 feet tall.

Zones: 3 to 9, depending on specific variety
Size: 30 feet tall x 30 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil

02 of 06

Cherry Trees

Fresh red cherry berries in a tree with green leaves. Selective focus of a cherry tree. — Credit: Cristi Croitoru / Getty Images

Like apples, cherry trees require cross-pollination to form healthy seeds. "Cherry trees do hybridize in nature, but edible cherry trees have grown better on the species of a dominant rootstock," says Adrienne Roethling, head gardener at a private estate. "There are certain species that are disease resistant and strong growers; therefore, most edible cherry varieties have been grafted onto the strong rootstock. Saving a seed or pit of a cherry and allowing it to grow will not give you an exact makeup of the variety. Buying a cherry tree is the best choice."

Zones: 5 to 8 for sweet cherries, 4 to 7 for tart cherries
Size: 15 to 30 feet tall x 15 to 30 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil

03 of 06

Pear Trees

Pears on pear tree. — Credit: Julia Pfeifer/Getty Images

Pears are an example of a fruit that produces seeds that don't grow true-to-type, says Abdi. "The genetics of the seed can vary from the parent plant," he says. "This does not necessarily mean that the fruit is bad, but it may not have the same appearance or flavor as the parent plant and may appear quite different." If you want a fruit with the look and taste you've come to expect, taking cuttings from an existing pear tree is a better option.

Zones: 4 to 8
Size: 10 to 30 feet tall x 6 to 12 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil

04 of 06

Banana Trees

Most bananas you bring home from your local grocery store are the cavendish variety, a triple-chromosome fruit that does not produce seeds. "Bananas purchased at the store are seedless—and for good reason," says Abdi. "The seeds are incredibly hard and can chip your teeth. Instead of searching for seeds, which may or may not be true-to-type, vegetative propagation is preferred."

Propagate the fruit by planting sections of the plant's rhizomes and suckers. You will have the best chance of success in warmer climates since bananas prefer warm temperatures. "Bananas do not like freezing temperatures," says Abdi. "If growing bananas in a container, move to a warmer location (e.g., inside a garage) during cold weather."

Zones: 8 and above
Size: 6 to 10 feet tall x 6 to 10 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil

05 of 06

Peach Trees

Peaches on peach tree. — Credit:
Barbara Rich/Getty Images

Many varieties of peaches and nectarines share genetic material with the centuries-old Prunes persica, native to China. While the fruits can produce a viable fruit or pit that can turn into a healthy tree, the new plants will not come true from seed, says Roethling. "Different varieties available today have been grafted onto a dominant rootstock. Grafted peach trees are available throughout the market, and one can easily find one or two varieties," she says.

Zones: 5 to 9
Size: 25 to 30 feet tall x 25 to 30 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil

06 of 06

Fig Trees

Figs grown in warmer climates can mature with seeds, but those grown from the Carolinas northward typically don't, says Roethling. The trees need a longer growing season than cooler areas can provide, and they also rely on a specific wasp for pollination. "The wasp is rarely found in colder climates," says Roethling.

Though seeds can be collected and started as new plants, the fruit will not be true-to-type. "Also, seeds will take many years to grow, mature, and produce figs," says Roethling. Instead, take stem cuttings from an existing fig tree and plant them in a new spot to increase your at-home fig harvest.