Hardy Citrus Atlas

Preserves

Orange citrus fruit on leafy branches

Washington Navel Orange

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Washington Navel orange (Citrus sinensis ‘Washington Navel’) is the most widely grown navel orange in the world, a natural mutation that appeared in Brazil in the early 19th century and was introduced to Washington in 1870, hence its name. Its tree hardiness reaches 16°F (−9°C), making it suitable for in-ground growing in USDA zones 8b and 9a. The vigorous tree commonly reaches 10 to 16 ft (3 to 5 m) in cultivation, and can reach 20 ft (6 m) in favorable ground, with a rounded habit, evergreen foliage, and fragrant white flowers in spring. Its large bright orange fruit, 7.1 to 10.6 oz (200 to 300 g), characterized by a visible secondary navel, seedless, with easy-to-peel skin, ripen in winter and offer juicy, sweet, fragrant flesh. The ultimate table orange: to be eaten fresh, as juice pressed right away (it oxidizes quickly), in salad. Graft onto Poncirus trifoliata for in-ground growing, plant against a south wall. Harvest in January-March.

A round yellow citrus fruit on a leafy branch

Shangjuan

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Shangjuan (Citrus wilsonii) is a wild Chinese citrus native to the provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou, a cousin of the Ichang lemon, from which it inherits its exceptional tree hardiness of 5°F (−15°C). It can be grown in the ground up to USDA zone 7b. The vigorous tree reaches 10 to 16 ft (3 to 5 m) with an upright, thorny habit, evergreen foliage with the winged petiole characteristic of papedas, and fragrant white spring flowers. Its large yellow fruit, 7.1 to 12.3 oz (200 to 350 g) with thick, rough skin, ripen in winter and give an aromatic, acidic juice reminiscent of a very fragrant grapefruit, with a zest exceptionally rich in essential oils. Used traditionally in Chinese cooking and Tibetan medicine. Its hardiness comes from its wild parent the Ichang papeda, which grows in the cold mountains of southwestern China. Graft onto Poncirus trifoliata.

A potted citrus plant bearing orange fruit on a patio

Orangequat

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Orangequat (Citrus sinensis × Fortunella margarita) is a hybrid between the sweet orange and the Nagami kumquat, selected to combine the sweetness of the orange with the edible skin of the kumquat. The hardiness reference retained for the tree is 14°F (−10°C), to be read in light of the individual plant and its microclimate. The compact tree reaches 7 to 10 ft (2 to 3 m) with a rounded habit, glossy evergreen foliage, and very fragrant white flowers in spring. Its bright orange fruit, small to medium at 1.8 to 2.8 oz (50 to 80 g), with thin, soft, fragrant skin, ripen in winter and offer a unique taste experience combining pulp as sweet as an orange and crunchy sweet skin like a kumquat, to be eaten whole like kumquats. Excellent candied, in marmalade, and fresh for enthusiasts. Very ornamental. Graft onto Poncirus trifoliata, plant against a south-facing wall.

Whole and halved dark red-fleshed citrus fruit on a kitchen board

Moro Blood Orange

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Origin: Moro blood orange (Citrus sinensis ‘Moro’) is one of the most iconic and most deeply pigmented blood oranges there […]

Two citrus fruit with green and yellow striped peel

Vatican Bitter Orange

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Vatican bitter orange (Citrus aurantium ‘Fasciata’) is a historic ornamental variety of bitter orange, traditionally grown in the Vatican and Roman gardens, famous for its spectacular green-yellow-orange striped fruit. Its tree hardiness reaches 14°F (−10°C), making it suitable for in-ground growing in USDA zone 8a-8b. The tree reaches 7 to 13 ft (2 to 4 m) with a rounded, thorny habit, glossy, often variegated evergreen foliage, and very fragrant white flowers in spring. Its bitter orange fruit with unique green-yellow-orange stripes, medium-sized with thick, rough skin, ripen in winter. Very ornamental but also excellent in marmalade, candied peel, and liqueur. The variety is particularly decorative and historically important in European royal gardens. Graft onto Poncirus trifoliata, plant against a south-facing wall, well-drained soil.

Orange citrus fruit beside visibly trifoliate leaves

Morton Citrange

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Morton citrange (× Citroncirus ‘Morton’) is one of the first Poncirus × orange hybrids ever selected, created by the American USDA program in the early 20th century. Its tree hardiness reaches 5°F (−15°C), among the hardiest edible citrus, making it viable in the ground up to USDA zone 7b. The vigorous tree reaches 10 to 16 ft (3 to 5 m) with an upright, thorny habit, semi-evergreen trifoliate foliage like its Poncirus parent, and white spring flowers. Its yellow-orange fruit, 3.5 to 7 oz (100 to 200 g) with thick skin, ripen in winter and give a markedly sour juice with a sweet-orange aroma, acceptable as juice, in marmalade, or as a cocktail base. A historic reference of the American hardy hybridization program. Graft onto Poncirus trifoliata; it will take continental winters without flinching. Well-drained soil; a south wall is recommended.

A botanical illustration showing citrus leaves, flowers and fruit

Dolce del Gargano Bitter Orange

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Dolce del Gargano bitter orange (Citrus aurantium ‘Dolce del Gargano’) is an Italian bitter orange variety that is less bitter than the classic bitter oranges, traditionally grown in the Gargano (Apulia) for its balance between acidity and sweetness. Its tree hardiness reaches 14°F (−10°C), making it suitable for in-ground growing in USDA zone 8a-8b. The tree can reach 16 to 20 ft (5 to 6 m) in the ground, with a rounded, thorny habit, evergreen foliage, and very fragrant white flowers. Its orange fruit, medium-sized at 5.3 to 8.8 oz (150 to 250 g) with thick skin, ripen in winter and give a juice that is less bitter than the classic bitter orange, with a pleasant acidity and a complex aroma. Excellent fresh for enthusiasts (rare for a bitter orange), in marmalade, juice, and liqueur. Graft onto Poncirus trifoliata, plant against a south-facing wall.

Small round yellow citrus fruit among leaves

Nordmann Kumquat

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The Nordmann kumquat (Fortunella margarita ‘Nordmann Seedless’) is a seedless selection of the Nagami kumquat found in Florida, chosen for its taste quality and productivity superior to classic varieties. The 14°F (−10°C) reference for the tree remains indicative, for lack of a Nordmann-specific threshold verified in this review; it does not guarantee in-ground cultivation. The compact shrub reaches 6.5 to 10 ft (2 to 3 m) with a dense rounded habit, glossy evergreen foliage, and highly fragrant white flowers in summer. Its bright orange oval fruit, slightly larger than classic Nagami, with sweet, fragrant skin, seedless (a distinctive trait), ripens in fall and winter and is eaten whole: sweet skin and tart pulp. Excellent candied, in marmalade, in liqueur, and in sweet-and-savory dishes. Ideal for anyone who wants to avoid seeds. Graft onto Poncirus trifoliata or Flying Dragon.

A potted citrus plant outside a doorway

Jimenez Kumquat

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Origin: The Jimenez kumquat is a named selection of Fortunella margarita, the oval kumquat native to southern China. Its name […]

Three elongated orange citrus fruit beside a mug

Giganteum Kumquat

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Origin: The Giganteum kumquat is a selection of Fortunella margarita (Nagami kumquat) obtained for its particularly generous fruiting of large […]

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