Mandarin orange

Mandarin orange, Citrus reticulata, is a small evergreen tree with slender, often thorny twigs, glossy lance-shaped leaves, and fragrant white blossoms followed by small, slightly flattened orange fruit whose loose peel slips off by hand. Native to southeastern Asia, it is grown for sweet, easy-peeling fruit and for taking cold better than sweet orange. Plant in full sun in well-drained, slightly acidic loamy or sandy soil in USDA zones 9 to 11, with satsuma types grown into zone 8 where freezes are brief; a mature satsuma is hardy to about 15 degrees F, though young trees need cold protection in north Florida. Water consistently while establishing, then deeply in dry spells. Trees reach 15 to 25 feet, smaller on dwarfing rootstock. Harvest runs from early fall into winter by cultivar: 'Owari' satsuma ripens in November, while in Florida 'Dancy' matures December into January.