Olive Trees
An impressive exotic fruit tree when mature. Olive trees will take -12°C in winter and fruit very successfully. However the fruit itself will be damaged if the temperature drops below -5°C. In Europe olive trees are grown in areas where they do not suffer from frost and even snow, growing nearer the mountains than citrus fruits.

Ziziphus jujube (Chinese Dates)
Chinese dates will take -30°C and need only a short growing season to produce a very good crop, rich in Vitamin C. initially the small fruits taste of apples, but if some of the fruits are left on the tree until they start to dry out, the flavour and texture completely changes to that of dates. This tree also tolerates salt air and can be grown outdoors anywhere in the UK.

Persimmon (Sharon Fruit)
Sharon Fruit will tolerate -18°C when fully dormant and they dislike very hot summers, so will grow very successfully in this climate. However the weight of the fruit can be excessive with individual fruits weighing an average of 350-400g.

Cherimoya (Custard Apple)
Custard Apples are normally grown in subtropical climates but will also tolerate mild temperature climatic conditions with winter temperatures down to -5°C. that means they can be grown outside in the south of England. They enjoy sea air and cool nights, and tolerate a wide range of soil types. They are ideal grown against a sunny wall where a protected cover can be placed over them should temperatures drop too much. The flavour is indeed reminiscent of apples and custard. Hand pollination may be necessary, but is not difficult to achieve.

Avocado Trees
Avocado trees are another exotic fruiting tree that surprisingly is tolerant down to -8°C for some varieties, but more usually -3°C for the Mexican types. Many people are now growing them in London gardens as they will eventually fruit from seed. It is better and quicker to grow grafted varieties of avocado trees, container growing them for the early years and plant them out when they get too big to over winter them in sheltered accommodation.

Mango Trees
Mango trees are an exotic fruiting tree very easy to grow in the conservatory or greenhouse which sets fruit very readily. Normally grown for early fruiting as a grafted tree, but one that will eventually set fruit from seed.

Bananas
Bananas are very popular at the moment, particularly the hardy root variety. Unfortunately the hardy variety Basju will not fruit in this country as it needs to be enormous before it produces its red fruits, and has to be cut down to protect it from frost as it is not totally hardy, only the root section. It is normally grown for ornamental proposes. However, that is not the case for the dwarf varieties of banana trees, the most well known of these is the Cavendish this will produce edible bananas at 5ft (or less) in height. The plant will fruit well if the suckers that rise up from the roots are removed as soon as big enough to handle and transplant, so that all the goodness goes into the fruit production.