The sweet-smelling blossoms, year-round greenery and tasty fruit of citrus trees are easy to love. If you live in an area warm enough to plant citrus (normally USDA Zones 8-11), the hard part is deciding which citrus tree to plant.
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1. Do I want to eat this for the next 20 years?
Citrus trees are long lived. Before you plant the tree, spend time choosing the right variety to meet your needs. This article talks about 30 different varieties of citrus. Some oranges are best for juicing and others are best eaten fresh. Citrus trees (even dwarf varieties) produce a lot of fruit. Try to sample the type of fruit you are considering planting. Many nurseries offer tasting events.
In Arizona, Greenfield Citrus Nursery hosts a citrus clinic each January put on by the Maricopa County Master Gardeners. There is a citrus tasting table as a part of this event each year.
Additionally, if you visit a grower during citrus harvesting season, many will allow you to sample fruit right off the tree.
Growing conditions can affect fruit’s taste but it’s important to like the variety you plant so the fruit is not wasted.
2. Should I plant a standard size or a dwarf variety?
It is important to plant citrus trees in an area which will allow them to reach maturity without obstruction or excessive pruning. Mature adult citrus trees average 20-25 feet tall and 15-18 feet wide. Dwarf types grow to 10-12 feet tall and 8-10 feet wide. Consider if your location has enough room for either type of tree.
3. When do I want to harvest?
If planting several trees, choose varieties that ripen at different times to space harvests throughout the year. This helpful chart “Citrus Harvesting Calendar for the Low Desert” from the University of Arizona Extension Office shows when different varieties are harvested.
4. Do I want fruit I can’t easily buy at the store?
There are many unusual varieties of citrus that are easily grown but difficult to find or expensive to buy in stores.
Buddha’s Hand – Prized for its unusual shape and beautiful aroma, this is definitely a conversation starter.
Kumquats – These trees are cold-hardy to 18-20 degrees and the small orange fruit can be consumed whole, peel and all. They are beautiful landscape trees with dark green leaves.
Pigmented or “Blood” Orange Varieties – The color in these develops best after a hot dry summer followed by a cold winter. Varieties such as Tarocco and Sanguinelli are a tasty choice.
Want more help deciding? This article answers gives descriptions and pictures for 30 different types of citrus.
Questions about growing citrus? This article answers 10 questions about how to grow citrus and includes guidelines for selecting, planting, watering, and fertilizing citrus.
Have questions about planting, watering or fertilizing citrus? Listen to this Encyclopedia Botanica podcast I was a guest expert on with Hillary from Seattleurbanfarmco.com.
terry mcdonald
Thursday 9th of September 2021
I have had a lemon tree for 2-3 years and have never gotten fruit! Why not?
Angela Judd
Saturday 11th of September 2021
Some trees take 3-4 years before fruiting. However, they usually produce before that. Are you watering and fertilizing? Does it get enough sun?
Lori Clark
Wednesday 9th of January 2019
I live in Sun Lake Arizona and I have a semi dwarf orange tree that I was thinking of planting above ground but cutting the bottom off so it can have that extra good dirt in container and ground. How far down do I dig and add mulch to? Or is it the width that’s more important than the depth?
Angela Judd
Thursday 10th of January 2019
I'm not exactly sure what you mean by cutting the bottom off, but here are a few guidelines. Leave the rootball intact and dig a hole as deep as the nursery container, and 3 times wider. Plant at soil depth, no deeper. Fill hole back in with mostly native soil. You can mulch well on the top of the soil, but keep mulch away from trunk of tree. Hope that helps.