Which citrus varieties grow best in Florida?

Cold-hardy choices such as Satsuma mandarins, kumquats, calamondin, lemons, limes, and select oranges perform well in Northeast Florida with proper care.

Do citrus trees need a pollinator?

Most citrus are self-fruitful and do not require a separate pollinator, though multiple trees can improve overall yield.

Are citrus trees cold hardy?

Many citrus varieties are sub-tropical but can handle brief cold snaps with protection; Satsuma and kumquat are among the most cold-hardy options.

Can I grow citrus trees in containers?

Yes. Use a well-draining potting mix, ensure good sunlight, and water more frequently than in-ground trees. Dwarf and semi-dwarf types are great for containers.

Citrus Trees for Florida Gardens

Quick Pick Citrus Tree List

Information about Citrus Trees

Citrus seeds were brought by the Spanish to Florida in the early to mid 1500’s. By 1563, groves or clusters of citrus trees had been planted and were producing fruit in St. Augustine and up and down the St. Johns river area where temperatures were ideal for sheltering Citrus trees from the cold. Today, citrus crops are grown and sold in bulk in 30 of Florida’s 67 counties and are of major economical importance, even the leading source of income in some of those 30 Florida counties. While commercial production of citrus has largely shifted southward due to the hard freezes of 1980, Northeast Florida area gardeners can still enjoy fresh citrus fruits from the garden with relative ease. In fact, some citrus trees, like Mandarin orange and even Navel oranges, are superior when grown in the cooler Northern regions of Florida.

Protecting Your Citrus Trees From Frost Damage
Although many citrus tree selections are fairly cold tolerant. some citrus trees planted into areas in North or West Jacksonville may need protection from cold by covering the trunks with insulating material and a freeze cloth over the top. Citrus tree foliage may defoliate or damage when temperatures drop to freezing during the winter. Citrus fruits can damage after four hours of temperatures at around 26 degrees and will completely freeze on the tree if temperatures drop to 22 degrees. South areas of Jacksonville or areas with microclimates created by nearby bodies of water, tall buildings and trees etc., and the St. Augustine area should be able to have fairly trouble free citrus trees that will only need occasional winter protection during an infrequent hard frosts or sudden temperature drops. Remember to watch for drastic temperature changes, where the weather, as it so often likes to do here in Northeast Florida, quickly goes form a warm 70-80 degrees to an overnight low of 32 or less. Cover your tree trunk paying close attention to the bud graft at the base of the trunk during drastic temperature drops or long lasting freezing temperatures, especially on newly planted or younger trees. And of coarse, make sure that they are getting that last dose of fertilizer in summer, and remember not to trim after September.

Where to Plant Your Northeast Florida Citrus Trees
Plant your citrus trees in well draining soils on the South side of the house, near tall native Pine trees or other frost blockers like fences or garden walls and sheds, or in any frost free area of your landscape where they will receive adequate sunlight. Citrus trees will grow in partially shaded environments but produce much more fruit in sunnier locations.

Planting Tips for Citrus Trees in Northeast Florida
Plant Citrus trees 15 ft apart when planting into groves

Remember to leave adequate space for Citrus to spread when planting near home foundations, buildings fences etc. Try planting the center of the citrus tree at least 6-8 ft from foundations.
Rough up the outside of the root ball after removing it from the Nursery container before you plant it into the ground.
Plant citrus trees into native soils, or amend only lightly mixing in the small amount of compost or manure with the native soil before back filling the planting hole around the citrus tree roots.
Plant your citrus tree slightly above the grade of the surrounding soil and make sure not to bury the top of the root ball with soil or mulch.

Mulch around the base of your citrus tree under and around the canopy with an Oak tree leaves you can find. UFIFAS now recommends this as a deterrent to help your tree remain free of Citrus Greening! The tannins in the oak leaves seem to be helping deter the Citrus Psyliids responsible for spreading Citrus Greening from tree to tree.

Citrus Trees

Grapefruits, Kumquats, Lemons, Limes, Oranges, Tangerines, Tangelos with so much flavor, how do you plant just one?

Duncan Grapefruit

Old Florida standard with pale flesh and classic tangy-sweet flavor; excellent for juice.

Details

Harvest Season (FL): November–April
Tree Size: Medium to large, 15–25 ft
Uses: Fresh eating, breakfast halves, juicing
Pollination: Self-fertile
Chill Hours: None (subtropical)

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Citrus Trees available at FTO St Augustine include Satsuma, Red Navel, Meyer Lemon, Juicy Persian Lime and more suited for FL citrus groves.

Quick Pick Citrus Tree List

Calamondin

Grapefruits & Pummelo

Kumquats & Limequat

Lemons

Limes

Mandarins / Tangerines

Oranges

Tangelos

Information about Citrus Trees

Duncan Grapefruit

Flame Grapefruit

Marsh White Grapefruit

Pink Pummelo

Ray Ruby Grapefruit

Ruby Red Grapefruit

Star Ruby Grapefruit

Ambersweet Orange

Blood Orange

Hamlin Orange

Navel Orange

Page

Pineapple Orange

Red Navel Orange

Spring Navel Orange

Temple Orange

Valencia Orange

Clementine

Dancy

Fallglo

King Mandarin

Murcott (Honey)

Ponkan (Chinese Honey)

Satsuma

Shiranui

Minneola (Honey Bell) Tangelo

Orlando Tangelo

Eureka Lemon

Harvey Lemon

Meyer Lemon

Ponderosa Lemon

Sambo (Sweet) Lemon

Variegated Pink Lemon

Centennial Variegated Kumquat

Marumi (Round) Kumquat

Meiwa (Round) Kumquat

Nagami (Long) Kumquat

Persian Lime

Indian Sweet Lime

Kaffir Lime

Key (Limequat)

Red Lime

Finger Lime (Red)

Calamondin