What Are Shade Tolerant Fruit Trees?

A shady garden typically presents many challenges for the gardener. For example, growing fruit trees

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A location considered to be in light shade has two to three hours without direct sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily during summer. No direct sun exposure on a site for four to five hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily during summer describes partial shade.

A site receiving filtered sunlight through a tree`s canopy during the day is considered to be in light shade. Dappled shade -- a pattern of equal parts sunlight and shade -- is regarded as partial shade.

A Missouri native, pawpaw (Asimina triloba) is a deciduous tree that is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9. Bearing plump, soft fruits with a flavor similar to banana, it grows in moist soil in partial shade or full sun. In fact, a pawpaw tree does best in filtered sunlight for its first one or two years.

Flowers appear on the tree in spring, and the tree`s fruits ripen in early fall. For the best pollination and fruit set, plant at least two pawpaw trees. A pawpaw can reach a height and canopy spread of up to 30 feet but usually grows 15 to 20 feet tall.

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Not to be confused with the Japanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki, USDA zones 7 through 10), which requires full sun for its fruits to ripen, the American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana, USDA zones 4 through 9) accepts partial shade plus a variety of soil conditions. The American persimmon blooms in late spring, and the flowers are followed by green fruits that eventually ripen to a rich, orange or purplish color in fall.

Although sandy, moist soil provides the optimal growing environment for an American persimmon tree, it will grow in dry, clay or rocky soil. The American persimmon grows 35 to 60 feet tall and 25 to 30 feet wide.

Most citrus trees (Citrus spp.) require at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. In hot-summer areas where citrus trees` leaves and trunks may become sunburned, however, the trees tolerate partial shade in the afternoon.

Citrus trees display glossy leaves year-round. They have fragrant blossoms in spring then bear fruits in fall, winter or the following spring, depending upon the variety. Full-size citrus tree varieties can reach 12 to 30 feet tall and 15 to 25 feet wide while dwarf varieties can be kept 6 feet or shorter with pruning. Dwarf citrus trees are suitable for growing in containers.

One citrus tree that grows in full sun or partial shade is the mandarin orange, also called satsuma and tangerine (Citrus reticulata, USDA zones 8b through 11). It bears sweet, orange fruits in November or December and grows 15 to 20 feet tall.

Known for its tart fruits, the grapefruit tree (Citrus x paradisi, USDA zones 9 through 11) is another citrus variety that tolerates partial shade, but it has fewer fruits there. The grapefruit tree grows to a height of 20 to 50 feet.

Citrus trees do best in well-drained, deep soil.