Sweet Orange
Citrus sinensis
Fruit TreeAbout Sweet Orange
Sweet Orange is the most commercially important citrus tree worldwide, cultivated extensively in tropical and subtropical regions. It produces the familiar, sweet, juicy fruit used for eating fresh, juicing, and flavoring. Florida and California are major production regions in the United States.
Quick Facts
How to Identify Sweet Orange
- Glossy, dark green, oval evergreen leaves with winged petioles
- Fragrant, white, waxy flowers
- Round, orange fruit with a pebbled rind
- Dense, rounded canopy
- Smooth gray bark on mature trunks; thorns may be present on branches
Care Guide
- Water deeply and regularly; citrus is sensitive to both drought and waterlogging
- Fertilize 3-4 times per year with citrus-specific fertilizer high in nitrogen
- Protect from frost; even brief freezes can damage fruit and foliage
- Prune minimally; remove water sprouts, dead wood, and low-hanging branches
- Monitor for citrus greening (HLB), which is currently devastating citrus groves
Known Issues (1)
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