Caring for Hardy Orange Trees

By Jennifer Poindexter 

My family moved to our small farm over six years ago. The land was filled with lots of perennials, nut trees, and fruit trees which had been neglected over the years.

It has taken time, but I’ve made my way around the property to revive many of them. A few years ago, I found a unique treasure that I wasn’t sure what it was at first.

With a little research, I realized I have a uniquely beautiful hardy orange tree. Though these trees aren’t the most commonly grown fruit trees, they do have their benefits and are worth your consideration in certain circumstances.

Here’s what you should know when learning about caring for a hardy orange tree:

What You’ll Learn:

• The characteristics of the hardy orange tree and how it differs from typical fruit trees.
• Benefits of growing a hardy orange tree.
• The essentials of how to care for a hardy orange tree, from soil preferences to water requirements.
• The importance of proper planting conditions and addressing potential invasiveness.
• Methods to propagate hardy orange trees from seeds and cuttings.
• Fertilizing needs and the right times for it.
• The significance of pruning to maintain the tree’s shape and manageability.
• Diseases that could potentially affect your hardy orange tree and prevention tips.
• Tips on how to harvest the fruits from the hardy orange tree.

What Is a Hardy Orange Tree?

A hardy orange tree grows to a maximum height of twenty feet and should be given a minimum of eight feet between plants.

This tree produces white blooms in the spring and a sour fruit later in the year that contains many seeds and doesn’t have a lot of flesh. Yet, it can be used for making jams or marmalades due to how much pectin it naturally contains.

Though this tree doesn’t sound like your average fruit tree, since it certainly isn’t, it makes a great hedge or living fence for livestock.

The tree produces two-inch spikes that’s great for keeping animals in and unwanted guests out of specific areas. If you’re interested in growing a useful but different plant that does produce a unique (but edible) fruit, then the hardy orange tree could be of interest to you.

How to Care for a Hardy Orange Tree

Now that you have a better understanding of what a hardy orange tree is, let’s discuss a few ways you can provide proper care for it. 

1. Provide the Right Soil for a Hardy Orange Tree

If you want your hardy orange tree to thrive, ensure you grow it in the right type of soil. This tree is known for being slightly drought-tolerant.

However, it needs a few specifics from the soil to sustain itself during short periods of drought. Hardy orange trees thrive in soil that’s evenly damp, loamy, and well-draining.

It prefers soil that’s more on the dry side instead of remaining overly saturated. By growing your hardy orange tree in soil that will absorb water and drain excess away quickly, it should be able to sustain itself in this location.

2. Water Your Hardy Orange Tree Properly

As previously discussed, water is important to this plant. It can withstand brief periods of drought, but it’s wise to water your hardy orange tree deeply while it’s becoming established.

This means you’ll water the plant for longer periods of time, fewer days of the week. This allows the roots to be saturated as well as the ground around the plant.

Watering in this way encourages the plant to develop a deeper root system as it’ll dig into the soil to retrieve more water as-needed.

As the plant matures, it should receive the water it needs from nature, but during times of drought it won’t hurt to water the plant deeply.

Ensure your hardy orange tree receives deep watering sessions, either by you or nature, and it should develop a deeper root system which encourages a healthier plant.

3. Grow Your Hardy Orange Tree in the Right Conditions

Hardy orange trees have a few growing specifications you should supply them upfront. By planting the tree where it’ll thrive, you’re giving it the greatest chance of survival and productivity.

To begin, hardy orange trees prefer a growing location with full sunlight. The more sun the plant receives, the more fruit it produces.

However, in warmer areas, the tree can thrive in light shade as it provides some protection from the excessive temperatures throughout the afternoon.

Also, hardy orange trees remain hardy in planting zones five through nine. They can also withstand temperatures up to -10 degrees Fahrenheit.

As you can see, when given the right growing conditions, this plant earns its name by surviving and thriving in elements other orange trees could not. 

4. Controlling Your Hardy Orange Tree

The hardy orange tree is considered an invasive species. It likes to take over wooded areas and tree lines, especially.

When the tree produces fruit which falls to the ground or if an animal eats the fruit, the seeds can be planted throughout the area.

These trees create thickets which are not desired by many home or land owners. If you’re concerned about the hardy orange tree becoming invasive around your home, it may be grown in a container. 

This should help control the spread, but be careful where you place the planter. Remember, this plant contains spikes that could easily harm someone if the planter is left in a high-traffic location.

5. Learn How to Start Your Own Hardy Orange Tree

Hardy orange trees may be propagated either by cutting or from seed. When growing hardy oranges from seeds, ensure they go through the stratification process.

This means you’ll place the seeds in a refrigerator for approximately thirty days. 

You can plant them in seed-starting containers prior to putting the seeds in the refrigerator or you can place them in a plastic bag filled with damp sand and soil. Then plant the seeds after they’ve gone through the process.

Once the seeds have gone through the stratification process, keep the soil damp and place the growing containers in a location with bright, indirect light and warmth.

The seeds should germinate in approximately two weeks. Provide adequate care to them until they’re sturdy enough to be hardened off and transplanted in a permanent growing location.

You may also grow hardy orange trees from cuttings. You should use a semi-hardwood cutting that’s approximately four to six inches long.

Dip the cutting in rooting hormone and plant it in a well-draining container filled with adequately draining soil.

Keep the soil evenly damp and the cutting in a warm growing location. It’s wise to wrap the container in a plastic bag to create a greenhouse effect.

In one month, the cutting should have grown roots. Continue to provide care to the plant until it’s mature enough to be hardened off and planted in a permanent location.

These are two ways you can add more hardy oranges to your growing space by utilizing the plants you already have.

6. Know When to Fertilize Your Hardy Orange Tree

Hardy orange trees do need fertilizer to help them become established. Use a liquid fertilizer during the growing season and apply it once every two months the first year.

In the second year, apply a liquid fertilizer every eight to ten weeks. Year three and thereafter, apply a liquid fertilizer in the later portion of winter, early spring, and as summer is coming to a close.

This should provide a boost of nutrients to the plant to produce adequately during the growing season and encourage good health.

7. Prune Your Hardy Orange Tree

A hardy orange tree becomes out of shape rather quickly. It’s important to prune it to keep it at the right height and shape.

Once fruiting has ended, use a sharp pair of shears or loppers to trim the tree to the shape and height you desire. Be mindful not to remove more than 30% of the tree at a time. 

Ensure you wear strong gloves and thick clothing to protect your skin from the tree’s spikes while pruning.

Complete the pruning process once per year to keep the tree shaped up and at a manageable size. 

8. Beware of Diseases Which Could Harm Your Hardy Orange Tree

The hardy orange tree may seem like a plant that nothing would mess with because of its sour fruit and sharp spikes.

However, this tree isn’t resistant to disease. When growing a hardy orange tree, it’s possible for it to become infected with citrus scab and citrus collar rot.

Citrus scab is a fungal disease spread by spores. It causes discoloration and bumps on the foliage, fruit, and limbs of the tree. The only way to keep a tree healthy and protected is to spray it with a copper based fungicide multiple times per year.

If your tree develops this disease, aside from treating with a fungicide, ensure you remove any old fruit from it. You don’t want to leave anything that could contain spores as it could further spread the disease.

Though citrus scab may be easier to diagnose, collar rot is not. Sometimes you may not notice until your fruit begins to ripen prematurely or you see discoloration at the base of your tree.

The best way to prevent this disease is to keep your tree healthy, supported with a stake, and by planting in well-draining soil.

If your plant has developed a terrible case of collar rot, you must remove the tree and not plant fruit trees in its place as the spores from this disease can live in the soil for many years.

However, if your tree has a slight case of this disease, you may remove the soil from the area and allow the tree time to dry out. You can also apply a fungicide.

When it comes to battling diseases, prevention is always the best method. Utilize these tips to keep your tree healthy and free of disease while growing around your home.

How to Harvest Your Hardy Orange Tree

I’ve provided tips on adequate care for your hardy orange tree, but I can’t leave you without providing a few tips on how to harvest the fruit of your labor from this tree. 

The last tip you should know about caring for a hardy orange tree is to ensure you harvest the fruit in a timely manner.

This helps keep pests away from your tree. Wait until the end of summer or early fall when the fruit turns yellow and becomes softer.

That’s the ideal time to pick the fruit and utilize it to make fresh fruit jams or marmalades. Be mindful not to eat large quantities of this fruit as they’re known for leading to stomach troubles and pain.

If you’re going to grow an edible fruit tree, it’s nice to partake in the harvest. With a hardy orange, you must do so with caution.

Thankfully, preservation methods make it possible to enjoy the fruit over time. 

Hardy orange trees are useful in certain circumstances. Understanding how to best care for them could improve both the tree’s health and the harvest you receive.

Whether using your hardy orange tree for making jam, as a living fence, or even as a plant in your landscape, it deserves excellent care, so it can be enjoyed for the unique plant that it is.

Key Takeaways:

• The hardy orange tree is unique, growing up to twenty feet, and produces sour fruit ideal for jams and marmalades.
• Besides fruit production, its spikes make it an excellent natural barrier or living fence.
• Proper care, including choosing the right soil, regular deep watering, and ensuring full sunlight conditions, is crucial.
• Hardy orange trees can be invasive; be mindful of their spread, and consider container growing as a containment method.
• Propagation can be achieved both through seeds (after a stratification process) and semi-hardwood cuttings.
• Fertilizing during specific times in the tree’s life can enhance its health and productivity.
• Annual pruning ensures the tree maintains its desired shape.
• Despite its hardiness, the tree can be susceptible to diseases like citrus scab and citrus collar rot. Prevention is key.
• Harvesting should be done when the fruit turns yellow and soft, and it’s best used for making preserves. Consuming in large quantities may cause stomach discomfort.

Hardy Orange Tree: Quick Reference Growing Chart

Attribute	Details
Height	Up to 20 feet
Spacing Between Plants	Minimum of 8 feet
Flowering	White blooms in spring
Fruit	Sour fruit with many seeds, suitable for jams or marmalades due to high pectin content
Uses	Hedge, living fence for livestock due to two-inch spikes
Soil Type	Damp, loamy, well-draining. Preferably on the dry side
Watering Needs	Deep watering while establishing. Can tolerate short droughts
Sunlight Needs	Full sunlight. In warmer areas, light shade can be beneficial
Hardiness Zones	Zones 5-9
Temperature Resistance	Up to -10°F
Invasiveness	Can be invasive; consider container growing to limit spread
Propagation	From seeds (after stratification) or semi-hardwood cuttings
Fertilizing Schedule	Liquid fertilizer every 2 months (1st year), every 8-10 weeks (2nd year), 3 times per year thereafter
Pruning	Annually, after fruiting. Don’t remove more than 30% of the tree
Potential Diseases	Citrus scab and citrus collar rot. Prevention and proper treatment are essential
Harvesting Time	End of summer or early fall when fruit turns yellow and soft
Consumption Caution	Limit consumption to avoid stomach discomfort

More About Hardy Orange Trees

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/citrus-trifoliata/

https://naturewalk.yale.edu/trees/rutaceae/poncirus-trifoliata/trifoliate-orangehardy-orange-3

https://www.uaex.uada.edu/yard-garden/resource-library/plant-week/hardy-orange-2-9-07.aspx