I wouldn't be afraid to try any of the fruits that grow in your area if flood potential is the only problem. Growing fruits that are more tolerant of wet conditions wouldn't hurt, but I think most of them will survive a short period of flooding. However if you have a very high water table, you'll want to use raised beds or the constant wetness will probably take most fruits out. The time of year when the flooding occurs will probably also affect how much trees can take. Dormant trees probably handle it better than trees that are leafed out.

I'd be more worried about the force of flooding--will it break the trees down with the current and floating trash that catches? More importantly, I hope your cabin is raised so it doesn't have to be swamped out/rebuilt frequently.

A number of my pears, apples, and cherry trees are planted on the lowest spot of my yard, and in heavy clay soil. It's not unusual for them to be in standing water for a day or two at time if we have heavy precipitation or a rapid melting of a deep snowpack. Some of them have been there for over 30 years, so I guess a little bit of flooding doesn't hurt them.

Now, whether major river flooding that could last for a week or more would do more damage, I don't know.

But, I don't think I've ever seem images of trees dying en masse from river flooding. I have seen images in the media of trees dying from saltwater intrusion during hurricane flooding such as happened in New Orleans after the city was flooded with saltwater during Katrina.

So, maybe it would be ok.

My only experience with periodic flooding is with apples, and they tolerate it very well as long as the ground drains well after the water recedes. Al

In the last flood, the Baraboo River was up to our armpits inside the cabin and lasted for about a week, starting June 8th. That was the worst it has been. I'm not sure where the water table is, but the river level is about 10 feet from the ground level most of the time. Has only gone over the lawn about 3 times in the last 45 years, and only that once inside the cabin. The oaks and pines grow fine there, but I wasn't sure about fruit trees. The soil is sandy. Maybe I'll try just one plum tree, and if it grows, I can graft on some scions from my 7 kinds I have at home for cross-pollination. If the plums get too wormy from lack of care, the squirrels can still enjoy them. It will be interesting to see how the coming spring goes, with all the snow on the ground. Northwoodswis

I live right by the Mississippi River, but am high enough up, so i'm not in the flood zone (at least not yet!). There is a property that was for sale not far from here, that had a pretty good sized apple orchard on part of the property (probably 50 trees)... They seem to be doing fine and the trees had to be over 10 years old. My guess is that they've been flooded a few times, since that property is very low (the trees)... Its right across the street from a river channel and the street is basically a dike...

We've had a ton of rain/high water the past decade. I can't wait to get into a drought pattern!