CITRUS sinensis

Description:Common name: Orange. Strongly fragrant white flowers are freely produced from Spring to Summer followed by fruit. The fruit though juicy is likely to be somewhat sour unless it is a long hot summer with plenty of sunshine to develop sweet sugars in the fruit

Uses: Citrus are relatively easy plants to grow if simple rules are followed. Once followed they reward you with strongly scented flowers and of course ? fruit! Orange trees form large shrub / small trees with large dark, shiny leaves

Climate/Position: During summer stand orange trees outside in a sheltered spot, gradually moving the plant into full sun. When the weather cools in the late autumn bring the plants in to an unheated well-ventilated conservatory or greenhouse

Height/Spread: Height 3 metres. Spread 2 metres. This is restricted by the size of container they are grown in

Soil Requirements: Will grow in quite heavy soil if well drained. If grown in a container then refresh soil every 3 years or so

Pruning: Cut the canopy back by a third each year and remove any damaged or dead stems

Special Requirements: Water thoroughly during the growing season but do not allow to stand in water. Feed throughout the growing season with summer Citrus feed. Fruit can be thinned to improve quality as they can take up to a year to reach maturity

Additional Interest: Original habitat is obscure, possibly an introgressed hybrid of C. maxima x C. reticulata. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Apomictic, insects