What evergreen fruit trees will grow in London?

[WhiteSandyBeach]

Appreciate that this is a very niche ask!

We live in zone 2, and I suspect have a better chance than many to grow fruiting and maybe even exotic trees due to the heat island effect. Really curious as to what’s possible.

I’ve seen a massive avocado tree online (covered in fruit, too), so know that can happen, but what I’d love to grow is some sort of citrus. In the ground ideally, as we don’t have the sort of setup where we could bring pots inside in cold weather.

Any ideas? Anyone seen an outdoor orange tree or similar?

The only place I've seen citrus growing outside in the U.K. is at Dunster Castle. Mild climate, against a wall and with a sort of large vertical cold frame so it essentially makes a tall narrow glasshouse in winter, I think.

Not evergreen, but hardy - Japanese bitter orange

you could try a Loquat

I had a lemon growing in a garden, used to cover it in fleece if there was a frost due, last time I saw it , it was doing OK

Some great suggestions, thanks all!

Loquats are new to me, @MereDintofPandiculation - and good
news about the lemon, @Ifailed

Do olive trees count?

Not London but down in the south west in sheltered spots I've kept a yuzu lemon (I think supposed to be the most hardy citrus?) and a ruby red grapefruit happy enough with fleece against frost, they fruit every year but not strictly evergreen as they will shed leaves in the coldest winters and take a little longer coming back in spring if they do (last winter for example!)

I know you've said you'd like citrus, but it recommend blueberries. They do really well in pots (in ericascious compost), some have leaves that turn red in autumn, some drop their leaves others don't, & you get fresh blueberries which are so much nicer than shop bought.

@APurpleSquirrel we actually already have an incredibly fruitful blueberry bush in a pot, but it does drop its leaves - it is actually one reason I was wondering about citrus and if that would do well.

@sparklepuffkin oh yuzu! Good shout, I’d forgotten about that. I have had that in gin/sake cocktails, mainly.

Loquats grow surprisingly well in London. Theres a huge old tree always abundant with fruit in Kennington (z2).

We’re in z3 and my mother planted all ours from stones we ate and they’ve fruited really well this year - obviously that method would take longer!