Climate Information

Most of New Zealand is considered temperate, with cold or cool winters (some frosts) and warm summers (low-medium humidity). A wide range of fruit trees can grow in temperate climates - think stonefruit, pipfruit, nut trees, feijoas, berries and vines.  With frost protection, and good placement subtropicals such as citrus, figs, passionfruit and tamarillos can be grown outside but depending on your space and . But in Otago, Southland and parts of Canterbury, the range should be limited to later flowering types of stonefruit, apples, pears, quinces and all types of berries.

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For our fruit selector tools we've used the USDA hardiness zones to differentiate between the different climates in New Zealand. Some varieties will do better in a 9b/10a climate for instance, and others in 8a/8b. Use the table below to look up your city/region to find out your climate hardiness zone. Of course, it may be that you are lucky to enjoy a microclimate, or depending on where you plant, you may be able to 'get away with' a certain fruit or variety - so use this only as a guidance.

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If you're in a cooler temperate zone (think, 8a,8b,9a) then it may be best to limit your choices to later flowering types of stonefruit, apples, pears, walnuts,, hazelnuts and all types of berries. If you're in a subtropical zone (10a) in the far North for instance you're best to avoid varieties with high-chill requirements such as a Moorpark Apricot or Packham's Triumph Pear.