Temple Orange (Citrus Reticulate)
⚠ Citrus ships to Florida only ⚠
The container-friendly Temple Orange, or Tangor, is a subtropical evergreen fruit tree said to be native to Jamaica, where a fruit buyer by the name of Boyce sent a budwood to Winter Park in 1896. A member of the Rutaceae family along with other Citrus, the thorny-branched Temple Orange came to be through a hybrid of the Sweet Orange and Mandarin Orange.
The deep orange-to-red fruit runs 3 inches in diameter and bears a leathery gloss full of fragrant pores of essential oil. Easy to peel, the Temple Orange’s tender flesh is found inside a loosely clinging pith, bearing bright, sweet-tart, juicy flavor ending in a sweet spice. The flesh color ranging from green to orange, depending on location. Nutrient rich, they provide vitamin A, C, beta-carotene, fiber, calcium, potassium, folate, and antioxidants!
Try these unique, hard to find Temple Oranges fresh out of hand or put them in a salad. They make great juice and ice cream as well! Zest those peels up and make yourself a fragrant cranberry orange muffin!The possibilities are endless. Highly regarded in Florida as a snacking favorite, they were once marketed as the “Ten Dollar a Box” competition with more costly oranges and quickly grew to favor.
With these treats just a pluck away when they’re in your yard, the Temple Orange is a great way to get your citrus on!
Planting, cultural care, pruning, and harvesting are similar for all citrus plants, with a few slight variations. Generally, they are best planted in filtered sun with well-drained soil that can hold moisture and nutrients. Citrus trees a particularly high demand for nitrogen. If you’re fantasizing about long afternoons of picking fresh fruit from your personal citrus grove, keep this in mind: The key to growing citrus is setting it up for success from the start.
Plant Type:
Subtropical Evergreen Fruit Tree
Harvest Season:
Winter, Spring, Year-round
Main citrus fruit production will take place in late winter through spring, but may produce throughout the year
Mature Size:
7-30 ft
Mature size varies by citrus tree type. Overall, citrus varieties can be grown in containers and maintained at smaller sizes.
Soil & Moisture:
Well-drained, high fertility and good moisture-holding capacity; High nitrogen demands. Regular watering throughout the first year and throughout flowering and fruiting season.
Light Requirements:
Full Sun, Part Shade
Overall, citrus prefers slightly shady areas and has better fruit production in part shade lighting conditions.
Self-Fertile:
Yes
Growth Rate:
Medium
Zone Hardiness:
Outdoors 8-11; Patio/Greenhouse 4+
Although their fruit provides a distinctly tropical twist to any drink or dish, Citrus trees trees are actually very cold hardy fruit trees, taking temperatures down to the low 20's!
Propagation:
Grafted and capable of producing fruit within 1 year.
See More:
Sow Exotic offers many different unique varieties of Citrus trees. Shop the Citrus Collection!
