What is the scientific name of a fruit? Fruit does not have a universal scientific name because each fruit comes from a specific species or group of species of plants.
A list of fruits’ scientific names makes it easier to identify fruits using their botanical names. The names of common fruits may vary from country to country or language to language, but scientific names provide a unified way to identify plants. In this piece, we’ve listed 100 common fruits with their scientific names in five easy-to-understand categories, so it reads like a quick reference that’s not too overwhelming.
The list includes tropical fruits, citrus fruits, berries and small fruits, stone fruits, and other widely known fruits. Along with the tables, we also talk a little about how scientific names work and why they’re important to students, gardeners, researchers, and really anyone interested in plants.
Table of Contents
Scientific names typically follow binomial nomenclature, a system that gives a species a two-part name. The first part is the genus and the second part is the specific epithet. For example, mango is scientifically known as Mangifera indica, while guava is Psidium guajava.
Fruits Scientific Names List by Category
For easier reading, we have divided the fruits scientific names list into five groups:
- Tropical fruits
- Citrus fruits
- Berries and small fruits
- Stone fruits
- Temperate and other common fruits
These groups are mostly for practical organization, not because everything is neat. These are not always completely strict botanical classifications, as fruits can be bundled in different ways according to plant structure, growing conditions, or how people typically use them.
Tropical Fruits Scientific Names List
Tropical fruits generally do well in warm regions and are grown extensively in Asia, Africa, Central and South America, and many other tropical or subtropical regions. Mangoes, bananas, papayas, pineapples, and guavas are some of the first ones that people mention.
20 Tropical Fruits and Their Scientific Names
| Common Fruit Name | Scientific Name |
|---|---|
| Mango | Mangifera indica |
| Banana | Musa spp. |
| Papaya | Carica papaya |
| Pineapple | Ananas comosus |
| Guava | Psidium guajava |
| Jackfruit | Artocarpus heterophyllus |
| Coconut | Cocos nucifera |
| Avocado | Persea americana |
| Dragon Fruit | Selenicereus undatus |
| Passion Fruit | Passiflora edulis |
| Lychee | Litchi chinensis |
| Rambutan | Nephelium lappaceum |
| Longan | Dimocarpus longan |
| Sapodilla | Manilkara zapota |
| Star Fruit | Averrhoa carambola |
| Durian | Durio zibethinus |
| Mangosteen | Garcinia mangostana |
| Breadfruit | Artocarpus altilis |
| Soursop | Annona muricata |
| Custard Apple | Annona squamosa |
Citrus Fruits Scientific Names List
Citrus fruits are quite well known for their juicy flesh and sharp acidity. Many people recognize lemons as being in the genus Citrus. Oranges, lemons, limes, mandarins, and grapefruit are common examples, but they are certainly not the only ones.
20 Citrus Fruits and Their Scientific Names
| Common Fruit Name | Scientific Name |
|---|---|
| Sweet Orange | Citrus × sinensis |
| Lemon | Citrus × limon |
| Lime | Citrus × aurantiifolia |
| Mandarin | Citrus reticulata |
| Grapefruit | Citrus × paradisi |
| Pomelo | Citrus maxima |
| Citron | Citrus medica |
| Kumquat | Citrus japonica |
| Bitter Orange | Citrus × aurantium |
| Bergamot Orange | Citrus bergamia |
| Yuzu | Citrus junos |
| Calamansi | Citrus × microcarpa |
| Key Lime | Citrus × aurantiifolia |
| Finger Lime | Citrus australasica |
| Makrut Lime | Citrus hystrix |
| Rangpur Lime | Citrus × limonia |
| Sweet Lime | Citrus limettioides |
| Seville Orange | Citrus × aurantium |
| Clementine | Citrus × clementina |
| Tangerine | Citrus reticulata |
Berries and Small Fruits Scientific Names List
Berries and other small fruits cover a wide range of plants. In common everyday speech, we often refer to many small, soft fruits as “berries.” However, this common label does not always correspond to the strict botanical idea of a true berry.
Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and cranberries are common examples, which is why the term feels so familiar to most people.
20 Berries and Small Fruits With Scientific Names
| Common Fruit Name | Scientific Name |
|---|---|
| Strawberry | Fragaria × ananassa |
| Blueberry | Vaccinium spp. |
| Raspberry | Rubus idaeus |
| Blackberry | Rubus spp. |
| Cranberry | Vaccinium macrocarpon |
| Gooseberry | Ribes uva-crispa |
| Red Currant | Ribes rubrum |
| Black Currant | Ribes nigrum |
| White Currant | Ribes rubrum |
| Elderberry | Sambucus spp. |
| Mulberry | Morus spp. |
| Boysenberry | Rubus ursinus × Rubus idaeus |
| Cloudberry | Rubus chamaemorus |
| Bilberry | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Lingonberry | Vaccinium vitis-idaea |
| Huckleberry | Vaccinium spp. |
| Goji Berry | Lycium barbarum |
| Aronia Berry | Aronia melanocarpa |
| Sea Buckthorn | Hippophae rhamnoides |
| Cape Gooseberry | Physalis peruviana |
Stone Fruits Scientific Names List
Stone fruits have this hard little structure around the seed. People usually call it a pit or a stone, a simple type, but it’s important. Peaches, plums, cherries, and apricots are the common examples you’ll hear about first.
Many of these stone fruits sit in the genus Prunus, and they’re also in the family Rosaceae, which is pretty common for this type of plant family.
20 Stone Fruits and Their Scientific Names
| Common Fruit Name | Scientific Name |
|---|---|
| Peach | Prunus persica |
| Plum | Prunus spp. |
| Sweet Cherry | Prunus avium |
| Sour Cherry | Prunus cerasus |
| Apricot | Prunus armeniaca |
| Nectarine | Prunus persica |
| Almond | Prunus dulcis |
| Japanese Plum | Prunus salicina |
| European Plum | Prunus domestica |
| Damson | Prunus domestica |
| Greengage | Prunus domestica |
| Mirabelle | Prunus domestica |
| Blackthorn Fruit | Prunus spinosa |
| Beach Plum | Prunus maritima |
| Chokecherry | Prunus virginiana |
| Cornelian Cherry | Cornus mas |
| Peach Plum | Prunus persica |
| Cherry Plum | Prunus cerasifera |
| Aprium | Prunus hybrid |
| Pluot | Prunus hybrid |
Temperate and Other Fruits Scientific Names
This group is of a mixed type, as it includes many familiar fruits that don’t really fall into the previous practical categories. Some do best in mostly temperate regions, and others can handle a wider range of weather.
Apples, pears, grapes, pomegranates, figs, and dates. All are familiar names.
20 Common Fruits and Their Scientific Names
| Common Fruit Name | Scientific Name |
|---|---|
| Apple | Malus domestica |
| Pear | Pyrus communis |
| Grape | Vitis vinifera |
| Pomegranate | Punica granatum |
| Fig | Ficus carica |
| Date | Phoenix dactylifera |
| Persimmon | Diospyros kaki |
| Kiwifruit | Actinidia chinensis |
| Quince | Cydonia oblonga |
| Loquat | Eriobotrya japonica |
| Medlar | Mespilus germanica |
| Olive | Olea europaea |
| Tamarind | Tamarindus indica |
| Jujube | Ziziphus jujuba |
| Star Apple | Chrysophyllum cainito |
| Rose Apple | Syzygium jambos |
| Java Plum | Syzygium cumini |
| Feijoa | Acca sellowiana |
| Tamarillo | Solanum betaceum |
| Prickly Pear | Opuntia ficus-indica |
Conclusion
So, this list of scientific names for fruits brings together 100 common fruits and their scientific names, and it’s organized into five easy-to-understand categories. It takes care of tropical fruits, citrus fruits, berries and small fruits, stone fruits and then other common fruits.
Scientific names are very helpful because they give you a consistent way to identify plants. Common fruit names may change from region to region, but botanical names are more relevant for students, researchers, growers, and readers.
