Citrus

Description

Growing in Phoenix: Phoenix is a prime citrus-growing country. In the ’70s there were 80 000 acres of citrus in production in  Arizona. Citrus are considered evergreens and with the correct care, they will produce for more than 50 years. Some varieties of citrus are more temperature-sensitive than others, our variety selection has more details. We carry a large selection of citrus trees for the backyard grower. One of our favorite times of the year is when the citrus trees are in bloom during February/March. Most citrus is ready starting in December.

Citrus trees will do best with afternoon shade or a 30% shade cloth to prevent sunburn on the West side of the tree. Citrus trees are pH sensitive and prefer a pH of around 6. They are prone to chlorosis due to the alkaline soils and water. Regular applications of soil sulfur and chelated iron are necessary to prevent this. They need sufficient deep watering, however, cut back on water during the dormant winter season. Except for limes most citrus is cold and hardy down to 20 degrees. Many citrus varieties are suited to container culture, it is best if the container is shaded to keep roots cool.  See our care instructions for more details.

See the planting and care guide page for planting and watering instructions.

Cara Cara: An excellent variety that is a firm favorite of backyard orchard culture. This is a red-fleshed navel rich in carotenoids and lycopene. The flavor is complex, low acid, and exceptionally sweet. There are hints of roses, cranberry, blackberry, and raspberry. A very juicy variety excellent for juicing, orange curd, and other culinary delights. Can be container-grown in 30 gallons or larger containers.  

Morro: Morro is the most highly colored of the blood oranges. It is believed to be of Sicilian ancestry and boasts a violet red flesh and a flavor profile with hints of raspberry and strawberry.   Blood oranges get their deep-colored flesh from anthocyanins. It can be container-grown in a 30-gallon or larger container.

Mandarin golden nugget: This medium-sized mandarin gets its name from the bumpy and ribbed rind. When peeled mandarins release immune-building aromatics and oils. Golden Nugget has a rich sweet flavor and is reliably juicy. Container grows in 30 gallons or larger.

Tangerine Fremont: A heavy bearer of sweet juicy fruit! East to peel, medium to thick rind. This one stays juicy for up to three months after ripening on the tree. A tremendous juicing variety. Citrus reticulata is also known as naartjie in South Africa. The rind is perfect for flavoring your milk tarts.

Mandarin Kinnow: (CORRECT SPELLING ON SITE) This medium-sized varietal has round to oblong-shaped fruit with a flattened top and bottom. The rind is thin and smooth and has many sunken oil glands. Use the rinds in homemade detergents and room fresheners. A very aromatic fruit with sweet rich fruit and a hint of tartness. Container grows in 30 gallons or larger.

Lime Bearrs dwarf: Also called Tahitian and Persian lime. This is a nearly thornless tree producing fragrant fruit. The fruit is larger than Mexican lime and they are more tolerant of cold than Mexican Lime.  Store-bought limes are picked too soon, a ripe lime will not be green on the exterior. This is a seedless lime with flesh pale greenish-yellow flesh. It is, acidic, juicy, and finely textured. They reach maturity, usually in late fall to early winter. Limes are more sun-sensitive and need afternoon shade. In winter protect it below 30℉. It can be container grown in a 30-gallon container. 

Lisbon Lemon: The Lisbon lemon hails from Lisbon Portugal and is one the most widely grown lemons. This is a vigorous tree with large thorns. The fruit is oblong and medium in size with a pronounced nipple. The skin is thick, fragrant and a deep yellow when fully mature. A juicy lemon, that is very acidic. In Phoenix, they are easy to grow.

**Fun Fact: Lemon thorns were used as a means of ear piercing before modern tools.  

Orange Navel: One of the most common and well-known orange varieties. Navels have thick bright orange skin and pronounced second fruit at the apex which resembles a human navel. It belongs to the group of sweet oranges. They have a lovely sweet flavor and are great for juicing. Grows well in Phoenix. Easy to grow, great for beginner gardeners.  

Pummelo Chandler: The Chandler Pummelo is exceptional citrus, producing large juicy fruit with some acidic notes. It has a lovely pink flesh surrounded by a pale yellow thick rind. The rinds are perfect for homemade cleaning supplies. A vigorous grower that is easy to grow in Arizona.

Mexican Lime Thornless: These are also known as key limes, West Indian limes, or the bartender’s lime. These tiny fruits are packed with flavor and aroma. They turn a pale yellow when ripe. Limes are more sensitive to temperatures than other citrus. Afternoon shade is preferred, protect below 30℉ in winter. Grow in a 30-gallon pot. 

Palestine Sweet Lime:  Palestinian sweet lime or Indian sweet lime is a complete flavor surprise to those who are not familiar with it. It has a grassy vegetal aroma mixed with citrus, with a sweet mildly flavored flesh. There is no acidity like other limes. It is used in Middle Eastern cuisine, makes a refreshing drink, and the peel is used for seasoning. Provide afternoon shade and winter protection below 30℉. It can be grown in a 30-gallon container. 

Kaffir Lime: Kaffir Lime or Makrut lime is an essential element of Southeast Asian cuisine. It is grown for the fragrant leaves rather than the fruit. It is also used in perfumery. Use to flavor many Asian dishes, steep a few leaves in hot water for a fragrant tea, or add a few leaves to your water bottle to infuse your drinking water. Protect below 30℉. It can be grown in a 30-gallon container. 

Mandarin Tango: An easy-peel, little to no seed mandarin. The fruit is bright and sweet with a tartness to balance out the flavor profile. It is late-ripening citrus, ready mid to late January. Good for container culture. Use a 30-gallon or larger pot. Protect fruit below 30℉.

Grapefruit Ruby Red: Ruby Red is one of the sweetest grapefruits available on market today. It is very juicy with a lovely “grapefruity” tang. This is a vigorous tree that grows easily in Phoenix. Use for fresh-squeezed juice, salads, sauces, and seafood.

AZ Sweet Orange: This variety originated out of Florida in the orchard of Daniel Diller near Phoenix. It produces a large yield of small to medium-sized fruit. They are slightly harder to peel than a navel which lends itself to being more of a juicing orange. It has few seeds and a lovely sweet bright flavor. Above-average cold tolerance. A medium-sized tree that can be container grown in a very large pot. 50 gallons or larger.

Limequat: As the name suggests this is a cross between a key lime and kumquat. The fruit is a pale yellow-green and the size of kumquats. They taste like both lime and orange. Provide afternoon shade. Does well in a large 30-gallon container. 

Calamondin: Calamondin or calamansi is hybrid cross of mandarin, orange, and kumquat. The peel is sweet while the flesh is sour and tangy with notes of mandarin. Use for marmalade, cupcakes or calamondin curd for pie. Benefits from afternoon shade. Does well in a large 30-gallon container. 

Trovita orange: An early maturing medium-sized fruit, with a sweet pleasant flavor. This is a very juicy variety with few seeds. It is a vigorous upright tree and prone to being alternate bearing. It originated in California but is a popular variety with Arizona backyard growers.

Nagami: The nagami kumquat is a compact tree that produces a prolific yield of bright orange fruit. The fruit is oblong with a sweet rind and tart flesh. Great for marmalade, and dried fruits. Can handle full sun once mature. A great container culture tree. Plant in a 30-gallon pot. 

Ponderosa Lemon: The ponderosa lemon is a hybrid between a pomelo and citron. It produces huge lemons often weighing 1-2 pounds. It is a sweet flavored, juicy lemon with a rind that is perfect for zesting. It has an uncommon trait of bearing fruit and flowers simultaneously. Grows well in Phoenix on vigorous trees. 

Eureka Lemon: This popular variety produces an abundance of beautiful fruit. Eureka is early producing, with large juicy lemons that have little to no seeds. It has a fragrant oily rind with a balanced sweet and sharp flavor. It is an early ripening variety, pick as soon as October. Eureka displays an attractive bronze-colored new foliar growth.  Easy to grow in Phoenix. A great container culture tree. Plant in a 30-gallon pot.

Meyer  Lemon: Meyer is an ultra-popular variety prized among top chefs and enthusiastic home cooks. It is a cross between sour lemons and sweet oranges, carrying both sweet and savory flavors. A very thin-skinned variety that is aromatic and bright. Use in drinks, desserts, and savory dishes. It is perfect for container culture. Plant in a 30-gallon pot.

Variegated pink lemon: This lemon is a unique Eureka lemon cultivar. It is prized for its attractive variegated foliage and distinct pink flesh. The rind is thin and pale yellow with green striping that adds to the attractiveness of the tree. The flavor is milder than most lemons, harvest while the fruits are still striped for a more tart lemon flavor. Harvest when fully mature and the skins are no longer striped for a mellow lemon flavor. Can be container-grown in a 30-gallon or larger.

Grapefruit Oro Blanco: Oro Blanco is a natural cross between s white grapefruit and a pomelo. They are large fruit with a round to ovate shape. It has a smooth glossy peel with small pores rich in immune-boosting aromatic oils. A thick white, bitter pith surrounds the pale flesh. This variety is juicy and nearly seedless. Oro Blanco grapefruit has a fragrant, floral aroma and a mild, sweet flavor with no acidic or bitter aftertaste.

Valencia Orange: This delicious cultivar gets its name from Valencia, Spain but was developed in Southern California. This is an excellent juicing variety, so popular that it accounts for half of Florida’s citrus production. It is the majority of the commercially grown fruit is used in juice production. They are medium to large and the rind is thin and gold in color with a rough texture. There are many prominent oil glands rich in fragrant and immune-boosting oils. It has very few seeds. Grows well in Phoenix and can be container grown in a 30-gallon or larger pot. 

Tangerine Dwarf Clementine: This is a small tree producing an abundance of sweet,  juicy, seedless fruit. It is an easy peeling fruit with a lovely aromatic fragrance. It is perfect for container growing and is excellent as a patio tree. 

Mandarin Daisy: Daisy is a cross between Fremont and Fortune. The medium-sized fruit with an attractive intensely colored dark rind. The tree produces heavy crops with the fruit held in large clusters but tends to be highly alternate bearing. It is moderately seedy with one to three seeds per section. Daisy is considered to be one of the best tasting mandarins, very sweet with a tang to balance out the flavor.  Can be container-grown in a 30-gallon or larger pot.