• Pomegranates are just one of many Mediterranean fruits that thrive in Zone 8.fig image by Marek Kosmal from Fotolia.com
  
  Zone 8 runs in a broad belt across the southeastern United States, starting in Texas and extending through northern Florida. A wide variety of heirloom fruit trees thrive in this region, ranging from apples to figs to a hearty variant of cherries. Be aware that just because your garden or orchard is located within Zone 8 does not necessarily mean that these trees will grow well. Other factors are involved, such as soil composition and elevation.
  
  

Apples

• Apple trees do well throughout the United States, and Zone 8 is the southern extreme at which many will thrive. Although you might be most familiar with supermarket Granny Smiths or Fuji applies, there are literally hundreds of heirloom variants to choose from. Not all do well in Zone 8, but quite a few will produce a healthy crop in southern climes. The Akane is a Japanese cultivar that's notable for its crisp bite and sweet aftertaste. The Bramley isn't good for eating raw, but it can be cooked into a rich apple pie or reduced into a sweet, mealy sauce. Black Twig apples are actually some of the most colorful heirlooms, ranging across the full spectrum of yellow to green to red.
  
  

Pears

• Pears also thrive in Zone 8, and two notable heirloom variants are feasible for the region. The first is the Bartlett pear, which has made its way into the mainstream while remaining true to its roots. These pears are the familiar green you'll see in supermarket produce aisles, and, when ripe, they'll melt in your mouth. Although delicious and popular, Bartletts are somewhat labor-intensive to maintain, as their flowers need to be manually pollinated in most regions of the U.S., excluding California.
  
  The other popular pear variant is the Anjou. Although dumpier in appearance than the Bartlett, the ripe Anjou is even softer than its cousin and juicy to the last bite. The tree itself is easy to maintain, both for its self-pollinating properties and its resistance to common diseases.
  
  

Other Fruit Trees

• Although apples and pears are the most plentiful in Zone 8, other fruit trees thrive in this region, especially those of classically Mediterranean association. Black mission figs will grow to a plump size, and a mature tree will bear a heavy load each year. If your orchard is in an area with a high squirrel population, though, expect your annual harvest to be a battle. Pomegranates also do well in the southern heat belt, though they might seem a little stunted compared to their imported kin. The flavor of the heirloom ambrosia pomegranate is as sweet as the name implies, though.
  
  Non-Mediterranean fruit trees can flourish in Zone 8 as well. The hill country just west of Austin, Texas, is known for its abundant peach harvest, including the heirloom Baby Crawford. Even Bing cherries have made their way down from Oregon. This sweet heirloom cultivar will produce a laden crop as dense as black mission figs.