One of my favorite things about gardening is finding a plant that absolutely nobody I know has ever grown… and bonus points if they’ve never even heard of it before (not gonna lie… this is most of the reason why I started getting into growing potted subtropical fruits and spices indoors on my windowsill). 

The more I researched unique fruits to grow at home, the more wildly fascinating cultivars I began to find. Who knew that there were blue bananas, for example? Pink blueberries? White blackberries?

I’ve added a few of these to my northern-zone fruit garden (and windowsill garden!), and others are still on my wish list… and somehow, this list keeps growing every year as more unusual cultivars come out. For now, here’s my list of top 10+ uniquely-colored fruits for home gardening.

1. 1. Pink Blueberries: This little odd-ball fruit has absolutely exploded in popularity since it first came on the scene. Although it used to be tough to track down, if you can’t find in in your local nursery you can find it in almost any online nursery or mail-order catalog’s collection. Although botanically a blueberry with the same growth characteristics and growing environment needs, this little fruit is a hot pink that Barbie would be proud of. 
   2. Blue Bananas: Yes, the Blue Java Banana is a thing – but don’t expect a bright robin’s-egg blue banana! The blue of these fruits is a light powdery blue-green… and as the fruit ripens, it doesn’t stay blue (just as a green banana doesn’t stay green). Unfortunately these can be tough to find, particularly for northern-zone gardeners, so you might have to put in some extra legwork to track down a plant online.
   3. Red Bananas: This one is on my wish list! Again, just a caveat on the color; the red banana tends to be less of a bright scarlet-red than it does a gentle reddish-brown, sometimes mottled with yellow. I’ve found this to be one of the more readily-available unusually-colored banana trees, and it’s often advertised in dwarf sizes.
   4. Pink Bananas: This is one of the odder fruits in the odd-fruit collection. Pink bananas might not be the best option for culinary purposes (those seeds are hard as little rocks), but for visual interest, it is hard to beat. Looking for more information on different types of bananas to grow in pots indoors? Check out my post on four amazing banana colors to grow on your windowsill!
   5. Pink Lemons: I have a pink lemon tree, and it’s a favorite. In addition to pink lemons (not bright, glaring pink – just a gentle, soft pink-yellow blend), my tree is variegated. The gorgeous white and green foliage looks pretty darn good on my windowsill, if I do say so myself! You can read a little more about the tree in my post on choosing a windowsill-friendly dwarf lemon tree to grow in containers.
   6. Red-Flesh Apples: Yes, everyone knows that apples come in red… but did you know you could get apples that are red in the interior, right down to the core? I didn’t! Bonus points because this apple is often advertised as cold-hardy to zones 4 and even down to zone 3! (Looking for other apples that can survive in northern gardening zones? Check out this article on apple trees cold-hardy to zone 3.)
   7. White blackberries: This one is just plain fun. I love the oxymoronic name – and blackberries have been a pet project of mine, since they aren’t easy to find in a variety that survives zone 4 winters. White blackberries are typically only advertised as cold-hardy to zone 5, and they tend to be floricane-fruiting (not sure of the difference between a primocane and a floricane? It matters!). However, I’m optimistic that with a little catering, I can get this one to survive in a sheltered location.
   8. Red oranges: I bought my first blood orange almost the day I discovered a nursery that carried dwarf-type orange trees. There’s just so many reasons to fall in love with this wonderfully sweet, container friendly tree… and the fun of growing an orange that is not actually orange comes with a bragging right of its own. Read more about blood oranges in this article on dwarf orange trees for container-growing indoors on a windowsill. 
   9. Striped oranges: Although often called a tiger orange, don’t picture black stripes on this unique fruit. Think more of a green variegation than an apex predator! This is a fun one, though sometimes hard to find (and therefore expensive, sadly). It’s on my list, but unfortunately I haven’t had the opportunity to add it yet. 
   10. White Strawberries: Pineberry strawberries look like somebody put them in a photo editing app and inversed the color. The berries themselves are bright white, and the red seeds stand out like somebody turned the contrast up to 10. In my head, I always consider these berries to be more or less in the same category as alpine strawberries because they are smaller than a “typical” strawberry, but they aren’t the same thing (and pineberries tend to be bigger than the teeny tiny alpines).
   11. Gold “Red” Raspberries: The funny thing about “gold” raspberries is they are technically the same species as the red… only they aren’t, you know, red. For the record, I highly recommend the “Anne” gold raspberries, with the caveat that they are impossible to kill off if you decide to plant them elsewhere (ask me how I know…). Read more about different colors of these favorite bramble berries in this article on red, black, purple and gold raspberries.

Where to Purchase Unique Fruit Plants

I usually try to purchase from local nurseries when possible – but unfortunately it takes a while for newer and unique fruits to become popular enough for the smaller companies to carry them. When I’m looking for a specific fruit tree, bush, vine or bramble, I typically default to one of the following online and mail-order nurseries:

• • • Jung Seed: I have always gotten good quality and service when I purchase from Jung.
    • Stark Bro’s: Mostly temperate-zone fruits, but some container-friendly subtropicals as well (I purchased my original Meyer Lemon from them). Love their stuff, love their selection… however, they tend to be pretty pricey, so I do watch for sales before I buy.
    • Indiana Berry: I really like their small berry plant / bramble / bush options. This is my go-to for brambles.
    • Nourse Farms: Good for smaller berry bushes.
    • Logee’s: Carries many unique subtropical fruiting plants, houseplants and more. This is usually where I look first for dwarf citrus trees.

Please note I do NOT get any referral fees from these companies. I’m just sharing their names as suggestions because I genuinely like them and wanted to pass along my recommendations. I am not affiliated with any of these companies in any way.

Happy gardening!