Sweet orange

Profile

Family

Rutaceae

Habit

Tree

Height

8.5 m

Spread

8 m

Growth

medium

Lifespan

200 years

First yield

after 7 years

Hardiness

zone 10–12

Shade tolerance

full sun

Soil

Sand, Silt, Loam

Soil moisture

semi-dry – very moist

pH

5.5 – 7

Flowering & harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Other uses: Seeds (oil) soap production; fruit peel & leaves (essential oil) (perfumery, cosmetics, cleaners,..): wood (hard, heavy, durable, splits easily) (turning, carving, handles, aroma smoking);

Notable

Special features: needs an annual average above 18°C for good flavour; in the tropics the peel stays green despite ripeness; cross of mandarin x citron; so significant that we named the colour after the fruit, not the other way round; There are 4 groups: blond oranges (common), navel oranges (with navel), blood oranges (red-fleshed), acidless oranges (uncommon);

Origin & habitat

The original native range is unclear; it may have originated in Asia, more specifically southern China and Vietnam.

The original habitat is unclear; it may be an introgressed hybrid of C. maxima x C. reticulata.

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