When we think of fruit, our minds usually drift upward—to the branches of apple trees, the canopies of mango groves, or the vines dangling with grapes. But not all fruits grow overhead. Some stay low to the earth, creeping along the soil, emerging from blossoms just above ground level, or even nestling directly into the dirt itself.
This list is all about those humble, ground-loving fruits—the ones you won’t find dangling in trees or perched on tall bushes. Instead, they sprawl, sprawl, or hug the earth as they grow.
So, what exactly counts as a ground-growing fruit?
For this list, I’ve chosen to include fruits that meet at least one of these criteria:
- They grow on vines or runners that trail close to the ground
- Their fruits emerge from flowers positioned near the soil
- They do not grow on trees or tall shrubs
You might be surprised by just how many common fruits fit this description. From sweet melons to spiky cucumbers—and even a nut that grows entirely underground—these fruits challenge the usual tree-top narrative and remind us that the ground has its own bounty to offer.
Melons & Gourd-like Fruits (Ground Vines)
These fruits grow from sprawling vines that trail along the ground, producing large, fleshy fruits near or directly on the soil.
Watermelon
A classic summer fruit with thick green rind and juicy red flesh.
Cantaloupe
Net-textured rind and sweet orange interior.
Honeydew
Smooth-skinned, pale green flesh with a high water content.
Hami Melon
Oblong with a crisscross skin pattern and very sweet orange flesh.
Galia Melon
A hybrid melon with netted skin and aromatic green flesh.
Winter Melon (Ash Gourd)
Often used in cooking, with a pale waxy coating as it matures.
Kiwano (Horned Melon)
Spiky orange skin with bright green, jelly-like flesh.
Pumpkin
Grows from thick vines, and its round orange fruits often rest directly on the soil.
Zucchini
A summer squash that grows close to the ground.
Squash (e.g., butternut, acorn, spaghetti)
Dense fruits that mature while resting on the earth.
Chayote
A pear-shaped green fruit with mild flavor and rough skin.
Bottle Gourd
Long or round pale-green fruits traditionally used for both food and containers.
Low-Growing Berry-Like Fruits
These fruits grow from small plants, often forming close to or directly on the ground via runners or low stems.
Cranberry
Grows in bogs and marshy ground; often creeps along the surface.
Strawberry
Grows from ground-hugging runners that send out new roots and fruiting buds.
Ground Cherry (Physalis spp.)
Small yellow-orange fruits enclosed in papery husks; low-growing.
Cape Gooseberry
A type of Physalis with sweet-tart golden fruit.
Cloudberry
Found in arctic and subarctic regions; grows on low, mossy plants.
Lingonberry
A small red berry on a low evergreen shrub, popular in Nordic countries.
Dewberry
Similar to blackberry but with trailing vines that hug the ground.
Other Ground-Growing Fruits
These don’t fit neatly into melon or berry categories but still grow close to the soil.
Cucumber
Technically a fruit, cucumbers grow from sprawling vines near the ground.
Passionfruit
A vine fruit that may climb, but often trails close to the ground in natural growth.
Peanut
Uniquely grows underground after flowering above ground; technically a fruit and legume.
Bitter Melon
A bumpy-skinned gourd with a distinct bitter taste, grown from vines along the soil.
Snake Melon (Armenian cucumber)
A long, twisty fruit that curls along the ground as it matures.
Gac Fruit
Spiny red fruit grown from low-spreading vines in Southeast Asia.
Cucamelon (Mouse Melon)
Tiny, grape-sized fruits with a cucumber flavor, trailing from delicate ground vines.
As this list shows, many delicious and unusual fruits prefer to grow close to the ground, hugging the earth as they ripen. Whether they sprawl like vines, creep like runners, or dig into the soil like peanuts, these ground-growing fruits remind us that some of the best things in nature don’t need to climb high to shine.