A Meyer lemon tree in the kitchen, a kaffir lime tree on the terrace, a blood orange tree on either side of the front door. If ever a plant evolved for living out its life in a pot, surely it's a citrus tree. Especially these. All Bay Flora citrus trees are grafted onto dwarfing root-stock that makes pot culture a snap. Not only do grafted citrus trees bloom and bear fruit at an earlier age than seedlings or cuttings, they also have greater frost resistance. And of the hundreds of citrus tree cultivars, we bring you the most useful, the most beautiful and the easiest to grow. Of course, citrus trees are garden mainstays in Zones 9-10 in the ground, but even in favored climates there's something about a citrus tree in a perfect pot that gives a garden a zing few other shrubs can match. The photo at left, courtesy of homecitrusgrowers.co.uk, shows what citrus can do for a garden, although Villa Castello in Florence may have a headstart on the typical suburban spread. Bay Flora citrus trees are pesticide-free. One-year trees are grown in 4" x 4" x 6" pots. Most of these stand about 12" to 16" above the pot. Main trunk is about 3/8" thick. All the citrus trees can be grown indoors, but they appreciate spending the summer months outside. Meyer lemon, kaffir lime, calamondin, kumquat and Trovita orange trees are the easiest citrus trees to grow indoors year-round, although they'll need an appropriate spot that gives them full sun and protection from heating and cooling vents. Citrus trees indoors also require ample humidity. The one-year trees will need to be repotted into a larger container or planted in the ground within a month or so. Make sure to provide excellent drainage. Perlite helps lighten soil mix and helps prevent damage from over-watering (the main culprit in citrus tree death). Expect flowering and fruit within a year for these 1 year citrus trees. Meyer lemons, kaffir limes and Buddha's Hand citron are available in 5 gallon containers. These are much more established trees and are shipped in braced boxes for extra protection. We will also have Meyer lemon trees on semi-dwarfing rootstock, grown in 4" x 9" pots. These are more vigorous trees, so plan on growing these trees in larger pots than the dwarf Meyer lemons. These lemon trees will be available in late July 2008. Citrus trees can be grown outdoors year-round in Zones 9-10, where they can reach 8' x 8'. Protect from frosts. Full sun and good drainage required for good results. Orders received by Fridays 5 pm PDT will be shipped the following Monday. Shipping charges: 25% for CA, 30% for OR and WA, 35% for rest of continental U.S. Photographs courtesy of UC Riverside Citrus Variety Collection, home to the largest collection of citrus on the planet. VERY IMPORTANT: NO SHIPPING TO AK, AZ, FL,HI and TX. |
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| 'Bouquet de Fleurs' Sour Orange Tree 1 Year Citrus aurantium 'Bouquet de Fleurs.' If you’ve ever walked along the narrow streets of Seville and admired the shiny green shrubs covered with small orange fruit, you know the allure of the sour orange. The most ornamental of all the sour oranges, ‘Bouquet de Fleurs’ has rounded, glossy leaves and waxy white flowers that are used in the manufacture of neroli oil, a component of classic perfumes. The peel flavors liqueurs such as Grand Marnier and Cointreau, and the high-pectin fruit is the basis for classic marmalade. Perfect for pot culture, sour oranges become 6’ x 6’ shrubs that will flower in Spring and Fall. Fruit dangles on the shrub throughout the year. Shipped in 4” x 6” pots. | |
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| Buddha's Hand Citron Tree Citrus medica var. sarcodactylus. Buddha's Hand citron is a really fun plant to grow. The long and shiny leaves, with tiny serrations, have a rumpled but distinguished air, with a beautiful purple flush on new growth (and young fruit). The tree is shrubby and open in growth, to about 6' tall. Grow outdoors during warm weather and bring indoors during winter months because citrons can't take freezing temperatures. The crowning glory is the winter fruit, which really does look like the hands of Buddha posed so carefully in Tang Dynasty statues. Fruit has no pulp or juice--its claim to fame is its peel, which is loaded with fragrant oils. The pith, unlike other citrus, is not bitter, so no worries about separating it from the peel. Considered the most propitious of fruit in many Asian cultures. Showcase a Buddha's Hand on your dining room table and your entire house will fill with a clean citrus fragrance overlaid with jasmine. Use the peel to make candied citron, zest it onto fish or salads or citrus curds, or flavor alcohol with it. If you don't want to make your own, then buy some Buddha's Hand vodka from the Bay Area distiller Hangar One. Well-branched plants, grafted onto dwarfing rootstock to promote early bearing, are 2' above soil line in 5 gal containers. They're bearing fruit, too! Shipped in 36" x 12" x 12" boxes, with wooden bracing. | |
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| Improved Meyer Lemon Tree 1 Year Citrus x meyeri. The Meyer lemon tree is our most popular citrus, for good reasons. This is the most adaptable citrus tree available for indoor growing. Meyer lemon trees, along with kumquats and satsumas, can also take more frost than other citrus trees. And Meyer lemon trees bear fruit even in the fog belt, with the biggest crop fall through spring. Not a true lemon, the Meyer is a cross between a lemon and a mandarin orange. So why do chefs from Abilene to Zanesville beg for these lemons? Because the thin skin is full of fragrant oils, the fruit is sweet yet penetrating in flavor, and the juice makes the best lemonade ever. Shipped in 4" x 6" pots. ONE PER CUSTOMER, PLEASE. | |
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| Improved Meyer Lemon Tree 5 Gal Citrus x meyerii. This larger version of our 1 year Meyer lemon tree has a nice branching structure, a main trunk that's about one-half inch thick, and stands about 2' above the 5 gallon container. Shipped in braced containers. | |
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| Lisbon Lemon Tree 1 Year Citrus limon. The Lisbon lemon is what you want if you're looking for the lemon found in the grocery store. High-acid fruit develops well without high temperatures and the tree is vigorous in many areas. Blooms and fruits throughout the year, but main crop of fruit occurs in winter and early spring. Frost-sensitive and not suitable for indoor culture. These plants are putting on lots of new growth. Shipped in 4" x 6" pots. | |
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| Italian Lemon Tree 1 Year Citrus limon 'Genoa.' Italians take their lemons seriously. This Italian lemon cultivar was brought to California from Genoa, Italy over a hundred years ago. A little-known yet cherished lemon for most of that time, gardeners around the U.S. are finally able to grow 'Genoa' and experience its merits for themselves. The fruits ripen throughout the year on vigorous shrubs that are less thorny than 'Villa Franca'. Peel, high in lemon oil, is the base for the most divine limoncello you'll ever sip. Juice is perfect for drinks and marinades. Spreading growth to 6' x 6.' More frost sensitive than Meyer lemon. Benefits from spending Summer outdoors. Shipped in 4" x 6" pots. | |
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| Owari Satsuma Mandarin Tree 1 Year Citrus reticulata subsp. unshiu. Even though the Satsuma is one of the smaller and slower-growing 1 year citrus trees, it could very well bear fruit within a year, typically around Thanksgiving. The Satsuma tree is more cold-hardy than other citrus, with established trees surviving temperatures of 15 degrees. The spreading growth habit of the Owari Satsuma tree is charming, with slightly drooping leaves. And there's nothing more exciting in the gardening world than picking your very own mandarin orange, peeling the loose skin and enjoying the fruits of your labor. Shipped in 4" x 6" pots. OUT OF STOCK UNTIL AUGUST 2008. | |
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| 'Nagami' Kumquat Tree 1 Year Fortunella margarita 'Nagami.' Of all the citrus trees, the kumquat may be the most decorative and suitable for pot culture. It's also fairly cold-hardy relative to other citrus, since it is semi-dormant in winter. Kumquats flower in the summer, and you need only a few to appreciate the fragrance. Its oval leaves are dark green and the olive-shaped fruit that appear in winter and ripen throughout the spring are a bright orange when ready to eat. In fact, the name kumquat is derived from the Cantonese word for golden orange. Fruit lasts a long time on the tree, usually until June. Kumquats are eaten whole, since the peel is the sweetest part of the fruit. The contrast between the sweet peel and the sour pulp is a mouth-watering experience. Thin slices of kumquat make any salad special. Or fruit punch, or iced tea, or grilled fish, or...you get the idea. Feed with a citrus food that contains zinc, because this cultivar can become deficient in that nutrient. Shipped in 4" x 6" pots. | |
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| 'Meiwa' Kumquat Tree 1 Year Fortunella margarita 'Meiwa.' Like all kumquats, 'Meiwa' benefits from warm temperatures during fruit development in early spring. Heat helps develop the flavor of the fruit. 'Meiwa' differs from 'Nagami' in the shape of the fruit, which is rounder and slightly larger. The rind is also thicker, which results in a sweeter taste. Slightly more cold sensitive than 'Nagami.' Current crop of trees are on the small side, but they have small fruit on their branches. Shipped in 4" x 6" containers. | |
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| Kaffir Lime Tree 1 Year Citrus hystrix. The species name for the kaffir lime tree is Greek for porcupine and you'll find out why this plant is so named when you're careless in handling it. But oh, these amazing leaves. Kaffir lime leaves grow in a manner unique to the plant world. One leaf appears to grow from the tip of another. And when you crush them between your fingers, the released fragrant oils would make a stable smell like a spa. They're necessary ingredients in many Asian dishes. The dried kaffir lime leaf is a pathetic version of one picked off a plant growing in your kitchen window. Fruit from kaffir lime trees bears an alarming resemblance to those bumpy osage oranges that scare cows all over the Midwest, but it's smaller and a much darker green. Very frost sensitive, so bring indoors when temperatures dip into the 30s. Benefits from humid conditions, but not wet soil. Also enjoys a dash of epsom salts every month or so. Shipped in 4" x 6" pots. OUT OF STOCK UNTIL LATE JULY 2008. | |
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| Kaffir Lime Tree 5 Gal Citrus hystrix. If you don't want to wait for the 1 year trees to grow, then here's your chance to have a year's supply of kaffir lime leaves fresh off the tree. About 2' tall, with one-half inch trunk and branching above the graft. Grown in 5 gal pots and shipped in braced 36" x 12" x 12" containers. | |
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| Bearss Seedless Lime Citrus Tree 1 Year Citrus latifolia. Bearss seedless lime tree originated in the Porterville, California citrus tree grove of T.J. Bearss in 1895. The classic lime for cooking and bartending, Bearss limes ripen even in cooler coastal areas. This citrus tree is a fast grower with fruit ripening in the fall. Its leaves are especially good for coating with melted chocolate (use the underside of the leaf). After the chocolate sets, pull off the leaf to reveal a chocolate twin with a tantalizing hint of citrus. Perfect for decorating cakes and lemon curds. One of the easier citrus trees to grow in pots outdoors if you're willing to bring the pot indoors when temperatures drop below freezing. Shipped in 4" x 6" pots. One of the more vigorous citrus trees. | |
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| Calamondin Citrus Tree 1 Year Citrus x Citrofortunella mitis. One whiff of the numerous flowers of this kumquat-orange hybrid and you'll succumb to the charms of the Calamondin tree. Mature Calamondin fruit is about an inch wide and has an orange skin when ripe. The fruit will last on the tree for months. Flowers on the Calamondin tree appear throughout the year, with an abundance in early summer. Calamondin fruit is used extensively in the Philippines for marinating fish, creating marmalades and making juice (add sugar because it is very sour). The always entertaining food writer Marlena Spieler is a great fan of the Calamondin, and you will be too once you have some on hand. One of the easier citrus to grow indoors. 1 year trees in 4" x 6" containers. | |
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| Moro Blood Orange Tree 1 Year Citrus sinensis. For a Moro blood orange tree to ripen properly, plant it in front of a stone wall. The retained heat will help the blood orange fruit ripen in early spring. Moro blood orange trees definitely need to be planted in a lot of sun to develop the sugars that make their fruit so appealing in salads and so rich in color. The tart juice has a fresh raspberry flavor. An amazing public garden south of San Francisco, Filoli, grew this citrus tree to perfection on a decomposed granite terrace. The space was a long rectangle, with weeping Camperdown elms at each end. Five blood orange trees were grown in terra cotta pots around each weeping elm, forming a double pentangle. Sublime. Shipped in 4" x 6" pots. ONE PER CUSTOMER, PLEASE. | |
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| Trovita Sweet Orange Tree 1 Year Citrus sinensis.A chance seedling of the Washington navel orange, the Trovita orange is juicier and sweeter than its parent. It lacks the juvenile segment that produces a navel. Fruit is smaller than parent and may have a few seeds. The Trovita ripens in Spring. Since it also blooms in Spring, you may have blooms and fruit at the same time, as in photo. This is the only orange that is suitable for indoor culture, since it will develop a sweet flavor without a lot of heat. Shipped in 4" x 6" pots. Currently these trees are very nicely developed and lush. | |
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