Indoor fruit trees can bring a surprising amount of beauty into your home. From fragrant spring blooms to glossy green foliage and seasonal harvests, these fruit trees you can grow indoors add charm while also giving you fresh, homegrown produce. Indoor fruit trees simply need a few essentials: plenty of bright light—preferably from a south-facing window or grow lights—and well-draining, organically rich soil to thrive in containers.
Because potted fruit trees grow in limited soil, they require slightly more attention than trees planted outdoors. You’ll need to refresh their soil more often and keep an eye on watering—especially during the warm months when indoor air becomes dry. Still, if you’re willing to give them consistent care, you’ll be rewarded with sweet fruits, glossy greenery, and the satisfaction of successfully learning how to grow fruit trees indoors.
1. Dwarf Pomegranate
If you’re planning to grow fruit trees indoors, choosing a dwarf variety is essential. Compact trees stay smaller and more manageable, unlike full-size pomegranates, which grow quite large and are better suited for outdoor planting.
Dwarf pomegranates, however, are ideal indoor fruit trees because they stay petite enough to fit comfortably in a 5- to 10-gallon pot. To keep them healthy, plant them in well-draining, organically rich soil. You also won’t need to water them as frequently as other potted fruit trees, since pomegranates are naturally drought-tolerant.
Place your plant in bright light, ideally near a south-facing window or under grow lights, to encourage steady growth and fruiting.
Size: 24 to 48 inches tall × 24 inches wide
Growing conditions: Bright light; well-draining soil
2. Fig
Fig trees are a common sight indoors, especially the hardier cultivar Ficus carica, which you’ll see labelled as Chicago Hardy and Celeste at nurseries. However, it’s not without its necessary maintenance—especially during the colder months. “The leaves will turn yellow in fall, which indicates that you need to decrease watering while the plant goes dormant for the winter,” says Laura Irish-Hanson, a horticulture educator at the University of Minnesota Extension.
She adds that these plants are fortunately self-fertile, so they won’t require another cultivar or insects for pollination to occur.
- Size: 4 to 5 feet tall x 3 to 4 feet wide
- Growing conditions: Bright light; well-draining soil
3. Meyer Lemon
A Meyer lemon is one of the most rewarding indoor fruit trees you can grow. It produces clusters of fragrant white flowers that fill your home with a fresh, citrusy scent—even in the middle of winter. But there is one important care requirement: you’ll need to pollinate the flowers yourself.
“When caring for fruit trees you can grow indoors, you must remember to ‘be the bee,’” says Sergeant. Since the flowers need pollination to develop fruit, you’ll have to do this manually. Fortunately, the process is simple. Use a small paintbrush to collect pollen from one flower, then gently brush it onto the pistil of another. The pollinated bloom should then begin developing fruit.
Size: 3 to 4 feet tall × 3 to 4 feet wide
Growing conditions: Bright light; well-draining, slightly acidic soil
4. Kumquat
Kumquat trees are one of the most delightful indoor fruit trees to grow, especially because their tiny, grape-sized fruits can be eaten whole, skin and all. Native to southern China, this compact tree needs plenty of sunshine to bloom. Aim for 8 to 10 hours of bright light each day, ideally from a south-facing window or supplemental grow lights.
Kumquats aren’t fussy about soil. A standard well-draining container mix works perfectly, as long as you avoid overwatering. Allow the top of the soil to dry slightly between waterings to keep the roots healthy.
Size: 3 to 4 feet tall × 3 feet wide
Growing conditions: Bright light; well-draining, slightly acidic soil
5. Mandarin
Mandarin trees make excellent potted fruit trees for indoor growers, especially because their care needs are almost identical to those of kumquats. Like many indoor citrus plants, mandarins prefer moist but never soggy soil. A quick finger test works best—push your finger a few inches into the soil. If it still feels wet, hold off on watering to prevent root rot.
These compact trees also benefit from light pruning in winter to help maintain their shape. However, once buds begin to appear, stop pruning immediately so you don’t remove the upcoming flowers—and future fruit.
Size: 3 to 4 feet tall × 3 to 4 feet wide
Growing conditions: Bright light; well-draining, slightly acidic soil
6. Avocado
Avocado trees are a fun indoor project, especially if you enjoy growing from seed, though patience is required. Non-grafted avocado trees can take 15 to 20 years to produce fruit, so consider them more for foliage and learning than immediate harvest.
To thrive indoors, avocados need lots of direct sunlight—a south-facing window works best, or supplement with grow lights if natural light is limited. They also require well-draining soil to prevent root rot.
Size: 5 to 8 feet tall × 2 to 3 feet wide
Growing conditions: Bright light; well-draining soil
7. Calamondin Orange
The calamondin orange is one of the most popular indoor citrus trees. Its small, sour fruits are perfect for marmalade or as a summer drink garnish.
This tree prefers well-draining, slightly acidic soil and is relatively drought-tolerant, meaning you can reduce watering in winter. It’s also hardy enough to handle the dry air from indoor heating, making it ideal for container growing.
Size: 6 to 8 feet tall × 3 to 4 feet wide
Growing conditions: Bright light; well-draining, slightly acidic soil
8. Olive
Olive trees make a great indoor option if you don’t mind modest blooms. For fruiting, place your tree in a cool, but not freezing, area of the home. Regular watering is essential, even during winter.
Choose the European olive variety for delicious, edible fruit. With proper care, olives can thrive indoors in containers, adding a Mediterranean touch to your space.
Size: 7 to 9 feet tall × 2 to 3 feet wide
Growing conditions: Bright light; well-draining soil
9. Tangerines
Tangerines, a type of mandarin, are a fragrant and attractive indoor fruit tree. When in bloom, their clusters of flowers fill your space with a lovely scent.
Keep an eye out for mealybugs and scale by regularly inspecting leaves, nodes, and stems. With proper care, tangerine trees thrive in containers and offer a delightful harvest of small, sweet citrus fruits.
Size: 3 to 4 feet tall × 2 to 3 feet wide
Growing conditions: Bright light; well-draining, slightly acidic soil
FAQs
Q1: Can all fruit trees grow indoors successfully?
A: Not all fruit trees are suited for indoor growth. Compact or dwarf varieties, like Meyer lemons, kumquats, and pomegranates, thrive in containers and limited sunlight. Larger outdoor trees, such as standard avocado or apple trees, usually won’t produce fruit indoors and are better suited for gardens or greenhouses.
Q2: How much light do indoor fruit trees need?
A: Most indoor fruit trees require bright, direct light for 8–10 hours a day, ideally from a south-facing window or with supplemental grow lights. Proper lighting ensures healthy foliage, flower production, and fruit development. Trees grown in low light may become leggy, drop leaves, or fail to fruit.
Buy These Gardening Tools
Fiskars Bypass Pruning Shears
These sharp, ergonomic pruning shears make trimming indoor fruit trees effortless. Perfect for precise cuts on branches and stems, they keep your plants healthy and thriving.
GE Grow Light LED Bulb
This energy-efficient LED grow light provides the perfect spectrum for indoor fruit trees, helping them thrive and produce healthy blooms and fruits year-round.
OFFIDIX Glass Plant Mister
Keep your indoor fruit trees and houseplants happy with a fine mist of water. This stylish glass plant mister makes regular hydration easy and adds a decorative touch to your space.
10pcs Plant Stakes and 15pcs Clips Set
Support your indoor fruit trees and growing plants with this handy 10-piece set. Flexible stakes and clips keep stems upright and healthy as they grow.
