10 Best Fruit Trees for Zone 4

By
David Beaulieu
David Beaulieu
David Beaulieu

David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 05/25/22
Reviewed by
Mary Marlowe Leverette
Mary Marlowe Leverette 2018
Reviewed by Mary Marlowe Leverette
Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry's most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40 years' experience; writing for over 20 years.
Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board
Early harvest apple tree branches with red-green apples hanging

The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

Cold temperatures can be a limiting factor for fruit trees. Many zone 4 gardeners think apple and pear trees are their only choices because they are generally the hardiest fruit trees. Apples and pears need a certain amount of cold or "chill hours," which refers to a minimum number of consecutive hours in winter when the temperature ranges from 32°F to 45°F.

Luckily, zone 4 gardeners do have delicious options in apple and pear varieties and other fruit tree choices to plant and enjoy.

  • 01 of 10

    Lodi Apple (Malus lodi)

    Lodi apple closeup.

    Akit/Getty Images

    Give Lodi apple trees full sun and loamy soil for optimum fruit production. In Washington State, Lodi apples are harvested in July, but, in other regions, the harvest may have to wait until late summer. These apples have a tart-sweet flavor.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
    • Mature Size: 20 feet
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained
  • 02 of 10

    Gravenstein Apple (Malus gravenstein)

    Tree full of Gravenstein apples.

    eastriverstudio/Getty Images

    Gravenstein is one of the hardiest apple trees. It is susceptible to a few more apple tree diseases than the Lodi including blight, scab, and powdery mildew. It has a tart-sweet flavor. The fruits are picked in July and August in Washington State and a bit later in some other regions.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 9
    • Mature Size: 12 to 15 feet
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained
  • 03 of 10

    Early Harvest Apple (Malus domestica)

    Early harvest apple tree branch with yellow-red apple hanging

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Early Harvest's fruit is often harvested earlier than other varieties, as early as June in some regions. It's also a fast-growing tree with a tart but juicy apple.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
    • Mature Size: 25 feet
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained
  • 04 of 10

    Kieffer Pear (Pyrus communis 'Kieffer')

    Yellowish pears hanging from tree.


    Ciprian Miresan/Getty Images

    Kieffer pear is self-fertile, but you'll get a bigger crop if you grow multiple trees to increase pollination. The fruit is crisp, juicy, and has a coarse texture. Harvest time is September and October.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9
    • Mature Size: 25 feet
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained
    Continue to 5 of 10 below.
  • 05 of 10

    Bosc Pear (Pyrus communis 'Bosc')

    Bosc pears on tree.

    Ross M Horowitz/Getty Images

    Bosc is fast-growing and bears fruit that, while not the juiciest, is sweet. Greenish-brown during most of the summer, the fruit turns brown by the time it's harvested late in the season. Bosc trees to dry out. Till the soil deeply before planting, because it likes to strike roots deep into the ground.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9
    • Mature Size: 20 feet
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, evenly moist
  • 06 of 10

    Moonglow Pear (Pyrus communis 'Moonglow')

    Yellowish pears with red blush hanging on a branch.

    Ariane Lohmar/Getty Images

    Moonglow pear soil requirements mimic those of Bosc. A dwarf pear variety, the juicy fruit ripens in late August in zone 4.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9
    • Mature Size: 10 to 15 feet
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, evenly moist
  • 07 of 10

    Beach Plum (Prunus maritima)

    Beach plum growing in sand dunes.

    MariaErmolova/Getty Images

    The cold-hardiest plum is the beach plum. At only six feet tall, it won't take up much space and is not fussy about soil (in fact, it's salt-tolerant). This tree does require excellent drainage since its native habitat is sand dunes. The small fruits, which are harvested in August, are one inch and dull purple when ripe.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
    • Mature Size: 6 feet
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained
  • 08 of 10

    Early Richmond Cherry (Prunus cerasus 'Early Richmond')

    Early Richmond cherries on branch.

    Rosmarie Wirz/Getty Images

    While you can grow cherries in zone 4, don't expect to grow the sweet Bing cherries (Prunus avium 'Bing') you find at the supermarket (zones 5 to 8). The cherries found in zone 4 are tart cherries suitable for pies and preserves. Early Richmond is self-fertile, but planting multiple trees promotes better pollination. It has some drought tolerance but is intolerant of boggy soils, so it is best grown in well-draining, sandy soil. The fruit usually ripens by mid-summer about a week before other varieties.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
    • Mature Size: 18 feet
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained
    Continue to 9 of 10 below.
  • 09 of 10

    Montmorency Cherry (Prunus cerasus 'Montmorency')

    Montgomery cherries on tree branch.

    Deb Perry/Getty Images

    Montmorency is another tart cherry excellent for pies with the same growing conditions as Early Richmond. Montmorency produces relatively small fruits that ripen in mid-summer.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 7
    • Mature Size: 18 feet
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained
  • 10 of 10

    Mulberry (Morus)

    Mulberry tree closeup with fruit.

    Jenny Dettrick/Getty Images

    Mulberries are harvested between June and August, but be aware that the unripe berries are mildly toxic. The fruit is sweet enough to eat fresh and can also be used for jams. Mulberry is easy to grow if it gets full sun.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
    • Mature Size: 50 feet
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained
Article Sources
The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Cold climate fruit trees. University of Vermont Extension

Featured Video