Fruit Trees - The Sweet Orange And Myers Citrus Lemon

Fruit trees create a great ornamental look to a ground garden. Some varieties will work well in decorative planters. The Sweet Orange or Citrus Sinensis and the Myers Citrus Lemon trees are popular in zones nine through eleven. They are both considered sub - tropical and tropical specimens. People living in geographical locations that grow citrus trees, are accustomed to have fresh oranges on lemons are a regular basis. A real treat for some people is to take a holiday or vacation to a warm desination, and taste that first bowl of fresh fruit. I wanted to share a little information, as well as a couple of photos of the Sweet Orange and Myers Citrus Lemon species. Each of these plants are native to China.

Sweet Orange

Close Up

The Sweet Orange is an evergreen tree that will mature around twenty to thirty feet high and can grow to fifteen to eighteen feet wide. This sweet orange variety is thought to originated from southern China, India and parts of Asia. Today, the United States produces the largest sweet orange crops. Florida is the leading state, and other major states are Georgia, Alabama, California, Texas and Arizona. The tropical areas of South America and Mexico also produce large quantities of this fruit tree. Other countries that produce good quantities are Japan, Brazil, Spain. Italy, and Argentina. The Sweet Orange has become a favorite also in Australia, the Mediterranean, and South Africa areas.

The Sweet Orange tree can take full sun but it is one of the citrus species that can survive under partial shade conditions. Once the tree becomes established, it is drought tolerant, but will need occasional watering. The delicate and beautiful white flower has five petals and attracts the best of the honey bees. The blossoms appear in the spring and the fruit that you see during the springtime and summer, are from last year. The fruit will not ripen after picking, so pick an orange fresh when you want to eat one. I have tasted the sweet orange and is by far one of the sweetest and rich flavor oranges I have eaten. These trees look great in a wide variety of gardens, and will also accent many varieties of palm trees and other evergreen plants.

Myers Citrus

Close Up

The Myer Citrus Lemon Tree is a very unique evergreen specimen. This tree is a cross between a lemon and a sweet orange tree. The Myer Citrus can mature to fifteen to twenty feet high and just as wide. It can be kept under control by properly prunning the tree. The specimen creates a wonderful addition in a planter on a deck, patio or in a container garden. This tree needs full sun and well drained soil. It doesn't do well in an environment of salt, so shouldn't be planted near the beach.

The Myer Citrus has a different flavor as the outside layer is thin and doesn't produce a strong lemon taste. Due the thin layer of skin, it doesn't present itself as a great crop for packaging. Many growers will defer from planting this crop for exporting. This tree is very popular in China and used in many container gardens. The Myer Citrus will lose its soil nutrients after the third year, so it should be re-potted with fresh potting soil. I love the flowers of this citrus tree. The white flowers represent a tight and long unique shape. There is a soft pink tone in each flower that sets off the blossoms. Each blossom forms a cluster of flowers that accent any sub-tropical or tropical garden setting. Once the flowers blooms, the fruit will be ready to pick in about three to five months. This is a very popular specie in the Gulf Coast states. It is used in the United States by gourmet chefs in different culinary dishes. The flavor ranges between a mandarin and a sweet lime. This is a great addition to a fruit salad, or squeezing some fresh juice on your favorite fish.

Above is a little bit of information on two special tropical ornamental trees. Each one represent a unique shape, color and taste. The Sweet Orange and Myers Citrus are great fruits to eat fresh and also if available in your area, to grow in a ground or container garden.