Orange

Sun

Full sun; choose a warm position sheltered from cold winds.

Water

Water deeply when the upper 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of soil dries. Containers need more frequent watering, but must drain freely; reduce watering during cool winter conditions.

Soil

Well-drained loam or sandy loam, ideally slightly acidic, around pH 6.0-7.0. Avoid waterlogged ground and use a free-draining citrus potting mix in containers.

Height

15-30 ft (4.6-9.1 m); dwarf grafted trees commonly 6-10 ft (1.8-3 m)

Spread

12-25 ft (3.7-7.6 m); dwarf grafted trees commonly 5-8 ft (1.5-2.4 m)

Flowers

Mainly spring, sometimes with scattered later flowers; white and strongly fragrant.

Foliage

Evergreen. Glossy, dark green, oval leaves with aromatic oils; branches may carry thorns.

Growth

Moderate in warm conditions; slower in containers and cool climates.

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen
• Fragrant
• Edible

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   7 ft (2 m)

2. After 1 year

   7 ft (2.2 m)

3. After 2 years

   8 ft (2.4 m)

4. After 3 years

   8 ft (2.6 m)

5. After 5 years

   10 ft (2.9 m)

About 26 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Growth rate

Slow

• Plant with the root flare at soil level and the graft union well above the soil.
• Water the root zone deeply, then allow the upper soil to dry slightly; never leave a pot standing in water.
• Feed with a citrus fertiliser containing micronutrients during active growth, following the label; avoid late feeding where frost is possible.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch, keeping it at least 6 in (15 cm) away from the trunk.
• Protect young trees from frost; move container trees into bright, frost-free shelter before freezing weather.
• Remove shoots arising below the graft and keep grass away from the trunk.

Pruning. Prune lightly in late winter or early spring after serious frost risk has passed, avoiding heavy cuts while flowers or fruit are present. Remove dead, crossing and rootstock growth, and shorten only what is necessary to control size; exposed limbs can sunburn after heavy pruning.

In suitable parts of the US and Australia, navels usually ripen in winter and Valencias later, often into summer; in the UK and most of Canada, trees need frost-free shelter and harvest dates are more variable. Cut or gently twist off full-sized oranges when a sample tastes sweet and juicy: skin colour alone is unreliable, and fruit will not sweeten after picking.

Late winter

Check sheltered container trees for scale and mites; keep them bright and water sparingly without letting the root ball dry out completely.

Spring

After frost risk passes, plant or repot, remove damaged growth and begin feeding as new growth starts.

Late spring

Move overwintered pots outdoors gradually, acclimatising leaves to direct sun over one to two weeks.

Summer

Water consistently during fruit growth and inspect tender shoots for pests; some natural fruit drop is normal.

Autumn

Prepare frost protection and bring container trees under cover before freezing nights.

Autumn to spring

Harvest according to cultivar and local climate. Taste a fruit to judge ripeness; peel colour alone is unreliable, and oranges do not sweeten after picking.

• Use a dwarf tree in a large, well-drained container as a courtyard focal point.
• Plant in a sunny kitchen garden or home orchard for flowers and edible fruit.
• Set matching container trees beside a sunny entrance, allowing room for their mature canopies.
• Combine with Mediterranean herbs outside the regularly watered root zone for contrasting foliage and scent.

Garden styles it suits: Mediterranean, Modern courtyard, Edible landscape, Backyard orchard, Potager (kitchen garden) and Sensory garden.

Plant it with: Sweet alyssum, Nasturtium, Chives, Thyme and Rosemary.

Wildlife: Flowers attract bees and other pollinating insects. Fallen fruit can attract rodents and wasps, so collect it promptly.

• Scale insects and spider mites: inspect leaf undersides and stems regularly, especially under cover. Wash off light infestations and use a labelled horticultural oil or insecticidal soap if needed; avoid spraying in strong heat.
• Citrus leafminer: winding tunnels distort young leaves. Avoid excessive nitrogen and unnecessary pruning that encourages soft growth; established trees usually tolerate damage without treatment.
• Phytophthora root or collar rot: poor drainage and wet mulch against the trunk encourage decline and gumming. Improve drainage, keep the trunk dry and clear of mulch, and replace badly affected trees with healthy grafted stock.
• Huanglongbing, or citrus greening: blotchy, uneven leaf yellowing, misshapen bitter fruit and dieback require prompt advice from your local plant-health authority where the disease occurs, including parts of the United States. There is no cure;

Ripe fruit flesh is edible for people. Peel, leaves and concentrated citrus oils contain compounds considered toxic to cats, dogs and horses; ingestion can cause digestive upset, and oils can irritate skin. Serious effects are more likely with concentrated oils than with a small accidental nibble. Keep plant material and essential oils away from pets.

• Bitter orange (Citrus × aurantium)

  Fruit is usually bitter and sour rather than sweet, often with a rougher rind; leaf stalks generally have broader wings. Do not rely on fruit colour alone.

• Mandarin (Citrus reticulata)

  Fruit is generally smaller and flatter, with a looser rind that separates readily from the segments.

• Trifoliate orange (Citrus trifoliata)

  Has leaves divided into three leaflets, large thorns and small, bitter fruit; it loses its leaves in winter and sometimes appears as shoots from citrus rootstocks.

The epithet sinensis means 'from China', while the English word orange ultimately derives from the Sanskrit nāraṅga through Persian and Arabic.

Propagation. Usually propagated by budding or grafting onto a suitable citrus rootstock. Seed-grown trees can take many years to fruit and may differ from the parent; buy a named, grafted tree from a reputable nursery for predictable size and fruit quality.

Accepted botanical name

Citrus aurantium Citrus × sinensis is an older name for Citrus aurantium.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.