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Description

Mandarin is a widely cultivated fruit tree in many warm temperate to tropical areas. It is small and evergreen, and grows about 8 m tall. It has axillary thorns. The leaves are dark green, long, and narrow. The flowers are star shaped and white. Mandarin fruits are reddish-orange in colour with resemblance to tangerines. However, it is smaller and oblate, the taste is less sour, sweeter and stronger, and its peel is very thin with very little mesocarp. It is eaten fresh, used in salads and desserts, or juiced. The peel is used fresh or dried and used as a spice. In traditional medicine, dried peel is used to improve digestion and reduce phlegm. For Chinese people, mandarins, along with tangerines, symbolizes abundance and good fortune. It is a part of their tradition that during Chinese New Year, mandarins and tangerines are used as decoration and given as gifts. In other countries such as Japan, Canada, the United States, and Russia, it is a Christmas tradition to give mandarins as gifts. Bloom Color: White. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Early winter, Late spring, Late winter, Mid spring, Mid winter. Form: Rounded.

Citrus reticulata is an evergreen Tree growing to 4.5 m by 3 m .
It is hardy to zone 9 and is frost tender. It is in leaf all year. The species is hermaphrodite and is pollinated by Apomictic , insects. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: medium and heavy soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic soils and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Cultivation

Landscape Uses:Container, Espalier, Standard, Specimen. Three main climates are suitable for commercial citrus production - tropical climates, subtropical with winter rain such as in the Mediterranean and semitropical with summer rainfall as found in Florida and southern Brazil. The optimal temperatures for citrus cultivation range between 25 - 30°c, with the coldest month having an average minimum of at least 15°c. Growth generally ceases below 13°c and above 38°c. If there are dry periods of more than three months, then irrigation will be necessary. This species grows better in the subtropics than in the tropics. Prefers a moderately heavy loam with a generous amount of compost and sand added plus a very sunny position. Prefers a pH between 5 and 6. Tolerates a pH in the range 4.3 to 8.3. Plants are intolerant of water logging. When growing plants in pots, a compost comprising equal quantities of loam and leafmould plus a little charcoal should produce good results. Do not use manure since Citrus species dislike it. When watering pot plants it is important to neither overwater or underwater since the plant will soon complain by turning yellow and dying. Water only when the compost is almost dry, but do not allow it to become completely dry. There are many named varieties. Plants dislike root disturbance and so should be placed into their permanent positions when young. If growing them in pots, great care must be exercised when potting them on into larger containers. Special Features:Edible, Not North American native, Attracts butterflies, Fragrant flowers, Attractive flowers or blooms.

HabitatsOriginal habitat is obscure.
HabitatsWoodland Garden Sunny Edge
HabitatsSouth Wall. By. West Wall. By.
HabitatsWoodland Garden Sunny Edge
HabitatsSouth Wall. By. West Wall. By.

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