CITRUS TREE
CITRUS
Growing your own orange or lemon tree is an exciting prospect, and one that's achievable if you have a well-lit room or a conservatory. These plants are tricky to please, but care and attention will be amply rewarded—they flower nearly all year long and are never short on interest.
HEIGHT 5ft (1.5m)
SPREAD 3ft 3in (1m)
FLOWERS White, scented
FOLIAGE Dark green
LIGHT Sun
TEMPERATURE 55–75°F (13–24°C)
CARE Challenging
PLACE OF ORIGIN South Asia
CARE
Citrus plants are self-fertile, so you don’t need to grow any more than one plant to enjoy the oranges or lemons from mature specimens.
Although these are quite challenging plants to grow and care for, they will thrive in a bright south-facing room that’s warmed naturally by the sun, rather than one with central heating, which is much too drying for them. However, it’s advisable to grow your tree in a specially formulated citrus potting mix and also to feed it with a specialized citrus fertilizer. If you can’t find the right potting mix, then add some fine gravel to the growing medium, which will encourage good drainage.
These plants will also flourish if they’re placed in a humid area and watered freely during the summer months with tepid rainwater. Regular misting helps raise humidity levels around the plants, as does placing their containers on a tray of moist, expanded clay granules.
Pruning requirements are minimal and straightforward—in February, clip your citrus tree to the desired shape.
PROBLEM SOLVING Plants that enjoy extremely warm temperatures, such as citrus, are always more prone to pests than other plants, including mealybugs, red spider mites, and scale insects. Regularly check the undersides of leaves, where pests lurk, and move infected plants away from all other houseplants.
Lemons prefer to ripen on the tree, so only harvest them when they’re yellow.
Choose the sunniest spot in the house to encourage a healthy crop.
DISPLAY
Large citrus plants look grand and imposing when displayed in sizeable terracotta or glazed pots. Smaller specimens are striking if grouped with other sun-loving plants such as rose grape.
Houseplants A–Z | CITRUS TREE
ALSO TRY
Other, more unusual, citrus are also available. Try kumquats and limes, for example; they can grow quite tall if given large pots and plenty of time:
- Kumquat (Citrus japonica), height 3ft 3in (1m). The scented flowers of the kumquat are followed by orange fruits. It thrives in sun.
- Lime (Citrus × latifolia), height 3ft 3in (1m). This plant has scented flowers that are followed by sharp-tasting green fruits.