A fruit tree is a tree that bears fruit. Stated this way, the description sounds like a pleonasm and doesn't seem to need any further explanation. But not in botany, a science where every word has its importance. If you can plant an orchard without knowing all the nuances and subtleties of the definitions, perhaps a little linguistics will help you win at Trivial Pursuit.

In botany, the fruit is the plant organ that contains the seeds. It is the ripe ovary of a flower. The trees that produce fruit are the most numerous. We call them angiosperms. The others, those that don't produce fruit, are called gymnosperms. This somewhat barbaric name covers species that produce seeds without envelopes. These include conifers, ginkgos and cycas.

The botanical definition of fruit is broader than that used in everyday language. When we speak of fruit, we think of those we eat. Even if they don 't grow on trees. Some, like bananas, melons, pineapples and tomatoes, grow on herbaceous plants!

Growing fruit trees is not just for professional arborists. Amateur gardeners plant fruit trees for their production and ornamental qualities.

When you have a garden, you plant fruit trees in the ground. Opt for large trees which, in addition to their fruit, provide shade and relief. You can opt for classics such as cherry, plum, apple, peach and pear. For a touch of originality, consider fig, almond, pomegranate, quince, cherry or even goji. Don't forget to vary the species. That way, you can harvest fresh fruit almost all year round.

You don't have a garden, but you'd like to create an orchard on your balcony? Fruit bushes and dwarf varieties are for you. Grown in pots, they rarely exceed two meters in height. For example, you can buy an olive tree, citrus trees (lemon, orange, mandarin, kumquat...), red fruits (blackcurrant, mulberry, redcurrant...). You'll also find dwarf apple, cherry and peach trees in garden centers and nurseries.

You don't need an outdoor space to grow fruit trees. Some shrub varieties, such as calamondin, avocado and coffee, can withstand indoor temperatures all year round.

Whether in pots or in the ground, take the climate into account. Your harvest will be more abundant. Hazelnuts and apricots thrive all over France. Nectarines and nectarines prefer warmer climates, but adapt well to the north and south of the Loire. If you select Mediterranean fruit trees such as citrus or olive, they will need protection during winter.