Just like the pomegranate shown on the blog cover photo (courtesy SwidaAlba Pixabay), there are many unusual fruits available these days, both tender and hardy. Some of us who are originally from warmer regions might be familiar with a few of these, although their care will differ somewhat here. Still, it’s nice to grow a taste of home and even if you are more at ease with the cold-hardy options, there are still quite a few rare fruits that are right at home here in Canada.
Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)
Also known as Japanese Silverberry, this large deciduous shrub produces abundant sprays of fragrant pale-yellow flowers followed by delicious red or yellow fruits with a distinct rhubarb and red currant flavour. It also fixes its own nitrogen, so it is useful in sandy, nutrient poor soils. We have three varieties in stock, ‘Garnet’, ‘Ruby’ and ‘Amber’. Self-fertile. Grows 10-16’ tall. Hardy to USDA zone 3.
📸 MK Lascelle
Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba)
This popular fruit is often found dried in Vancouver’s Chinatown, hence its other common name, Chinese Red Date. This small deciduous tree is actually quite hardy, and the fruit can be eaten both fresh (with a green apple flavour) or dried, where the taste of date comes through. We are carrying both ‘Xian Beauty’ and ‘ZigZag’. Partially self-fertile, crops better with cross-pollination. Grows 8-12’ tall. Hardy to USDA zone 6.
📸 xbeing Pixabay
Aloha Berry (Fragaria x ‘White Carolina’)
Here’s something the kids will love; a white strawberry freckled with red seeds that has a distinct pineapple flavor. This cross of Fragaria chiloensis and virginiana is also known as Pineberry, ‘Aloha Berry’ or ‘White Carolina’ and most of these are June-bearing varieties. Pollinate with a standard red strawberry. Grows 10” tall by 18” wide. Hardy to USDA zone 4.
📸 MK Lascelle
Purple Fig (Ficus carica ‘Violette de Bordeaux’)
Although our favourite local figs continue to be ‘Dessert King’ and ‘Italian Honey’, some of the purple-skinned varieties also do quite well here. Case in point is ‘Violette de Bordeaux’ or ‘LSU Purple’ both of which have attractive purple skin and very sweet strawberry-coloured flesh. Self-fertile, with one crop a year ripening. Grows 6-10’ tall. Hardy to USDA zones 6 and 7, depending on variety.
📸 MK Lascelle
Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea)
Here’s a small evergreen shrub for those who are risk adverse to winter damage, as it is native to much of the northern hemisphere. Lingonberry is also quite an attractive ornamental with glossy rounded foliage, white heather bells and sprays of bright red berries often ripening after a hard frost. These have a delicious cranberry flavour. Self-fertile. Grows 12-16” tall. Hardy to USDA zone 2.
📸 MK Lascelle
Goji Berry (Lycium barbarum)
I will admit that Goji Berry is an acquired taste with its blend of cranberry, tomato and sour cherry flavours, but it is also packed with healthy antioxidants. This large shrub is drought tolerant once established, thriving in full sun exposures and is also quite productive, with the berries drying well like raisins. Self-fertile. Grows 7-10’ tall. Hardy to USDA zone 5.
📸 MK Lascelle
Strawberry Guava (Ugni molinae)
This was one of Queen Victoria’s favourite fruits, so much so that she had them grown in greenhouses just for her. Also known as Chilean Guava, this evergreen shrub is a bit tender but is easily established in large containers, like the one I have on my own patio. Expect absolutely delicious red berries in mid to late summer with a unique strawberry-guava flavour. Self-fertile. Grows 5-6’ tall. Hardy to USDA zone 8.
📸 MK Lascelle
Medlar (Mespilus germanica)
I’ll be the first to admit that Medlar fruit isn’t the most visually appealing, as the French used to refer to it as cul-de-chien or ‘dog butt’. Then there’s the fact that it isn’t ready to eat until it is overripe in late autumn, but the spiced apple butter flavour more than makes up for all of this. This is also a very cold hardy and disease resistant species, with large attractive white flowers from late spring into early summer. Self-fertile. Grows 8-10’ tall. Hardy to USDA zone 4.
📸 MK Lascelle
Pink Blueberry (Vaccinium ‘Pink Popcorn)
An unusual colour variation of blueberry that is actually a true highbush form (Vaccinium corymbosum) that is less prone to fungal problems than other pink berried hybrids. These will also have a true blueberry flavour yet still look great in those fruit salads, with this variety also sporting attractive red autumn foliage. Cross- pollination recommended. Grows 5’ tall and wide. Hardy to USDA zone 3.
📸 MK Lascelle
Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon)
Here’s a thought…instead of planting a traditional groundcover in those full sun areas, why not consider some cranberries. The foliage on this sub-shrub is reliably evergreen, the smallish, pink-tinted blooms are quite attractive and the large red berries in late autumn are unmistakable and also quite delicious. Self-fertile. Grows 3” tall. Hardy to USDA zone 2.
📸 MK Lascelle
All of these rare fruits and many more are now for sale online on the Amsterdam Garden Centre website. So, plan to save some money in 2026 by growing your own unusual edibles.
Copyright 2026 MK Lascelle
