Hi:
There is no nursery that specializes in exotic fruits in the Atlanta area. When I was running a garden center, I tried hard to find them, but there aren't even local suppliers. Occasionally you can find a lemon or something at a Pikes or Lowes - maybe a Whole Foods - however, they are not hardy in the ground here.
I recommend you paruse online catalogs for Johnsons Fruit Nursery and Isons which will help you determine what fruit can grow fairly well here. Neither catalog tells you "everything" about growing any particular variety of fruit (some of the Johnsons varieties are best for the mountain areas, but the catalog doesn't state that). You must also consider if the tree/fruit you need spraying and care so you can choose your weapon - organic or traditional growing, there are some farmers now experimenting with a mixture of tactics.
That said, you will probably do well to start with a fruit that will succeed here naturally without having to fuss with soils or spray at all. Blueberries are native to Georgia and the Johnson's catalog will tell you lots about varieties.
The most useful book I found to explain fruits etc. is the Southern Living Garden Book published a few years ago. The information in there about backyard fruit culture is very good. I am also once again reading Backyard Orchard Culture by Stella Otto, have found this information useful: http://www.davewilson.com/homegrown/all_ed/ed_plantTrees.html, http://www.davewilson.com/homegrown/BOC_explained.html.
Your best resource in Atlanta for unique fruit culture is contacting Lostman or the ATLFruitman, or the Hoochman (all the same guy!!) http://atlantafruitman.wordpress.com/ He's a friend and neighbor, and is full of great information about hardy exotic fruits for Atlanta!

thanks for your girlgroupgirl. i accidently found an older thread from '07 where a blogger mentioned that they had a starfruit tree which got me thinking. you've certainly given me alot to work with, i'll look into it. thanks again.

NOTE: This is a duplicate thread. The other copy can be found HERE

I saw a good selection of various fruit trees at the Autumn Hill Nursery (local)when I was last there. Including some hardy oranges. So you may want to check that out. If you're interested in figs at all, I would start out with a Fig tree. Then you could branch out from there. They are easy to grow in this area. Scottsdale Farms up in Alpharetta had a good selection of those in the Spring...

Best of Luck!
Susan

Here is a link that might be useful: Autumn Hill Nursery

Buck Jones in Woodstock/Canton also carries fruit trees in the spring. I've seen apples, pears, plums and paw paw.

thanks susancol and esh. what are you guys growing? are they high or low maintenance. figs, pears, plums and oranges sound interesting. which fig tree is most desired? there are so many types. have any of you had problems with pest/ insects as a result of growing fruit trees?

I'm not growing any, I have a fairly wooded lot. But some neighbors are. Celeste and Brown Turkey are common easy to grow fig varieties. But I think any you find locally should grow great!

I only grow Paw Paw and so far I have not gotten them to cross pollinate well enough to set fruit. I have two that I bought and one that I rescued from the wild (with permission).

i'm not familiar with the taste of paw paw or permission. i was thinking of buying the fruits to taste. they seem to be popular. i'm not sure if this might be helpful but how about placing some flowers nearby to attract more bees. i've heard concerns of a decreasing bee population. not sure i remember why exactly. they sure do seem to like my flowering herbs. i.e. basil. hang in there though. sometimes it can take some plants to establish themselves.

Esh
PawPaws are pollinated by flies. Next time your trees are in bloom smell the flowers. They smell like rotting meat - this is to attract the flies.
I had read somewhere to improve your fruit set you should hang a dead animal in the orchard to bring in more flies.
I don't think I'll try it

Good luck

I really don't blame you for deciding to grow fruits to taste, however you have to balance that with choosing the correct cultivator for the area, and the cultural requirements of the type of fruit. I love peaches, but man, I wouldn't grow them here. Southern peaches taste great but the spray programs you have to put them on really negate their value as a fruit to me for a backyard gardener.
It's a real balance to choose things.