As someone who’s currently on a whole foods diet, fruits play a big role in my meal plan.
Whether they’re sweet or tangy, I’m always open to trying them out and sharing whichever with you guys when I do.
Curious to know how many fruits start with P?
Today, I’m going to take you on a fruity adventure as we explore 25 mouthwatering fruits that all share one common trait—they all start with the letter P.
From the familiar to the exotic, these fruits that start with P offer a variety of flavors, textures, and health benefits.
Use this article to prep for your next pop quiz or even to explore different and unique kinds of fruits you can try out!
25 Delicious Fruits That Start with P
Papaya
A refreshing, sweet fruit with orange flesh and dark pulpy seeds, the papaya fruit is a delicious and nutritious tropical fruit.
This large fruit most likely originated somewhere in the Southern region of Mexico and it has the scientific name Carica papaya.
You can discover some delicious papaya substitutes on this list!
Passion fruit
Known for its vibrant purple color and unique tangy-sweet flavor, passion fruit is one which thrives in tropical areas.
Passion fruit is rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, making it a refreshing and nutritious choice. It’s native to South America and has the scientific name Passiflora edulis.
Pawpaw
The paw paw fruit is native to North America and has a tropical flavor reminiscent of mango and banana. Lookswise, it closely resembles a mango on the exterior and on the inside, a soft custard-like, white flesh.
Pawpaw contains vitamin C, magnesium, and potassium.
The scientific name of this unique fruit starting with P is Asimina triloba.
Peach
Peaches are round stone fruits with a pale-colored, fuzzy-looking exterior and somewhat orange flesh with a sweet taste.
The peach fruit is a great source of a multitude of nutrients and is used to make all kinds of desserts like ice cream as well as sweet treats.
The scientific name of this common fruit is Prunus persica.
Pear
Pears are uniquely shaped fruits with green skin and white, grainy flesh. They have round bottoms that become narrow near their stalk.
The pear fruit is native to many regions around the world and is one of the most widely grown fruits around the world.
Pears are part of the rose family and are valued for their unique taste as well as their culinary value and are known scientifically as Pyrus communis L.
Pecan
Although pecans aren’t generally considered as one, they’re actually fruits. Botanically speaking, a nut is basically a fruit with a woody epicarp and pecans are brown-colored ones.
They have a sweet and buttery flavor, a crumbly texture and are packed with a whole host of nutrients.
The botanical name of the pecan is Carya illinoinensis.
Pepino
The pepino is a fruit with an oval shape that looks like a tiny watermelon. It’s also known as a melon pear and it usually bears either yellow or green skin with dark green or purple stripes.
The pepino is native to some regions in South America and its taste is comparable to that of a cucumber and honeydew.
Solanum muricatum is the scientific name of this fruit starting with P.
Persian lime
A fruit of unknown origins, the Persian lime fruit is one of the most widely cultivated species of lime. This fruit has a tangy flavor is seedless and also known as the Tahiti lime.
Persian limes are more acidic than key limes and have a smooth rind.
Scientifically, they’re known as Citrus × latifolia.
Persimmon
This unique fruit that starts with P has a vibrant orange color and a subtly sweet flavor, somewhat reminiscent of a mango while the texture of the fruit is soft and almost jelly-like. Persimmons are a great source of dietary fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants.
There are two popular varieties of these fruits with P and their scientific names are Diospyros kaki and Diospyros virginiana.
In case you ever find yourself without persimmons, this guide to the best persimmon substitute will point you in the direction of a suitable replacement.
Peruvian apple cactus
Just like the prickly pear, the Peruvian apple cactus is a fruit that grows from a variety of cactus plants. In contrast to the prickly pear, this Peruvian apple cactus does not have spines but it’s plant does.
They’re also known locally as pitaya and their color varies from violet red to yellow.
The Peruvian apple cactus is mildly sweet and has the scientific name Cereus repandus.
Peruvian groundcherry
Also known as the cape gooseberry, the Peruvian groundcherry is a small sweet tart fruit enclosed in a paper-like husk.
They are members of the berry family and have high water content with a smooth and shiny outer skin.
Their plants thrive in warm climates and scientifically, they’re known as Physalis peruviana.
Peumo fruit
The peumo is an edible red berry. Its tree, which is native to regions in South America, is valued for its ornamental value and the peumo fruits it produces.
Their taste has been described to be rather unpleasant so the tree is more valued for its bark rather than its fruits and its scientific name is Cryptocarya alba.
Pie pumpkins
Although pumpkins are grown for their ornamental value and cultural significance, pie pumpkins are a variety of the fruit that’s grown for its culinary value.
Its flesh is sweet and similar to that of a squash. It’s used to make desserts and all kinds of sweet treats.
Pineapple
Pineapples are sweet and juicy fruits indigenous to the tropical and subtropical regions of the American continent. Its pale yellow or yellow flesh has a soft texture and is rich in all sorts of vitamins, minerals and enzymes.
The scientific name of this tropical fruit that starts with P is Ananas comosus.
Pineberry
Pineberries are a cultivar of the common strawberry. They have white or pink flesh with red seeds and have a taste quite similar to that of a pineapple.
The pineberry fruit closely resembles miniature pinecones and is used to make all kinds of sweet treats and beverages.
Pineberry’s scientific fruit name is Fragaria x ananassa.
Pindo palm fruit
The pindo palm tree produces a small sweet, tart and juicy fruit that’s golden yellow in color. They’re also known as jelly palm fruits or palm dates and are used for all kinds of cuisines.
They can be eaten fresh or dried and used as toppings for delicacies or mashed into jams and jellies. The scientific name of this fruit is Butia capitata.
Pitanga
Also known as the pitanga cherry, these fruits are tiny vibrant red colored tropical fruits starting with P. They have a sweet but sharp taste and are rich in many nutrients including vitamin c and all other kinds of minerals.
The scientific name of pitanga is Eugenia uniflora.
Pitaya
Known by many names including the dragon fruit, pitaya is a small exotic fruit with a vibrant yellow or pink outer skin. On the inside, it has white or reddish flesh speckled with little black seeds.
Its taste is somewhat sweet and its flavor has been compared to that of a kiwi and watermelon. Pitaya is a good source of vitamin C, iron, and fiber and its scientific name is Selenicereus undatus.
Plantain
Plantains are basically the starchier and much larger versions of bananas. They’re fruits but they need to be cooked before being eaten.
They can be fried, roasted, boiled or even mashed. Plantains are a great source of dietary fiber, potassium, and vitamins A and C and are a staple food in many tropical regions where they’re grown.
The botanical name of this fruit is Musa paradisiaca.
Plum
Plums are a kind of fruit called drupe or stone fruit. They belong in the same family as nectarines, peaches and apricots.
It is small, sweet but sour fruit that come in a variety of colors, ranging from deep purple to yellow or red. Plums are low in calories, high in vitamins, and offer a good dose of fiber.
Plums scientifically belong to Prunus subg. Prunus.
Pluot
Another hybrid on this list, pluots (also known as plumcot), as their name implies, are a cross between apricots and plums. It includes many varieties with each mostly having more plum character than apricot.
Their flesh tastes quite similar to that of plums but their skin isn’t bitter, making them more similar to apricots in that regard.
Pomegranate
Pomegranates are a unique kind of fruit famous for their juicy red arils and their antioxidant-rich properties. The edible seeds contained in the arils are nutritious and tasty.
The arils themselves are packed with vitamins, and potassium, and are believed to have various health benefits.
Scientifically, the pomegranate fruit is known as Punica granatum.
Check out my ideas for a pomegranate substitute to learn some similar fruits and their benefits.
Prickly pear
The prickly pear is a special edible fruit borne from a variety of cacti. It has a spiky exterior whose colour varies from green to orange and even red. It’s also known as the cactus fruit and its flesh is soft, sweet, and juicy.
Pulasan
The pulasan fruit is asmall tropical fruit with a juicy translucent flesh and red skin. It’s often confused for the rambutan due to their similar physical appearance, except rambutan is smaller with softer, more protruding spines.
It’s native to southeast Asia and is rich in nutrients. Scientifically, pulasan’s fruit name is Nephelium mutabile.
Pomelo
Unlike many fruits starting with P on this list, the pomelo is actually a naturally occurring, non-hybrid fruit. It’s native to Southeast Asia and is the largest citrus fruit.
Tastewise, it is sweet with a mild and tart flavor similar to that of a grapefruit. Its rind is thick and scientifically, it’s known as the Citrus maxima.
There you have it – 25 tantalizing fruits that begin with the letter P!
From the well-known pineapples and pears to the exotic pitaya and pulasan, you can now name fruit that offer a wide range of flavors, textures, and nutritional benefits.
Whether you’re looking to satisfy your sweet tooth or enhance your culinary adventures, the P fruits have got you covered.
But don’t stop there! Check out these veggies that begin with letter P as well as these foods and cuisines starting with letter P! Or if you’re working through the alphabet, try fruits that start with N, and fruits that start with Q!
25 Surprising Fruits Starting With P (watch out for 23!)
Ingredients
- Papaya
- Passion fruit
- Pawpaw
- Peach
- Pear
- Pecan
- Pepino
- Persian lime
- Persimmon
- Peruvian apple cactus
- Peruvian groundcherry
- Peumo fruit
- Pie pumpkins
- Pineapple
- Pineberry
- Pindo palm fruit
- Pitanga
- Pitaya
- Plantain
- Plum
- Pluot
- Pomegranate
- Prickly pear
- Pulasan
- Pomelo