Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Dwarf Arizona Sweet Orange
Dwarf Arizona Sweet Orange puts the classic Valley juice and eating orange on a smaller tree. It stays about 8 to 10 feet tall, a size that fits a tight yard or a large patio pot. The fruit ripens from about November through February. White blossoms fill the yard with orange blossom scent in late winter and spring.
Best for: sweet oranges for juice and eating from a smaller tree, an orange for a large patio pot or a tight yard, and orange blossom scent in spring.
Dwarf citrus are the best choice for growing in pots. Use a pot about 20 to 24 inches across with drainage holes, and keep it off hot west walls in summer.
It stays about 8 to 10 feet tall and wide in the ground. Sweet oranges are good for juicing and eating fresh, ready from about November through February.
White, fragrant blossoms open in late winter and spring, and bees visit the flowers. The tree is self-pollinating, so one tree sets fruit without a second orange nearby.
The fruit can be seedy, and it is more tender to frost than the tree. Bare trunks sunburn, so keep the low branches. Pots dry out fast and heat up near west walls.
- Dwarf citrus in a rowAbout 8 ft apart
- Standalone tree8 to 10 ft from other trees
A newly planted orange tree needs water every few days in its first months, more often in summer. Water out past the edge of the canopy, not right at the trunk.
Soak the soil 2 to 3 feet deep about every 7 to 14 days in summer and every 3 to 4 weeks in winter. Let the top of the soil dry between waterings, and never water shallow and daily.
Feed with a citrus fertilizer three times a year. Apply one feeding in January or February, one in March or April, and one in May or June.
Prune lightly from late winter into spring, never in summer. Leave the low branches that shade the trunk, and paint any bare, sun-hit bark with white latex paint.
Sweet orange trees are rated to about 24°F, but the fruit is more tender than the tree. Cover young trees with frost cloth to the ground on freezing nights, and water the day before.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
What is an Arizona Sweet orange?
It is a trade name for a group of sweet oranges grown in Arizona, such as Hamlin, Diller, Marrs, Pineapple and Trovita. They are good for both juicing and eating fresh.
When are Arizona Sweet oranges ripe?
They ripen from about November through February, depending on the variety. Fruit only ripens on the tree and keeps getting sweeter while it hangs, so taste one instead of going by color.
How big does a dwarf Arizona Sweet orange get?
Expect about 8 to 10 feet tall and about as wide in the ground. A standard Arizona Sweet grows about 10 to 20 feet tall, so the dwarf fits a much smaller space.
Does a dwarf tree give full size oranges?
Yes. The tree is smaller, but dwarf, semi-dwarf and standard citrus trees bear the same size fruit.
Can I grow a dwarf orange tree in a pot in Phoenix?
Yes. Use a pot about 20 to 24 inches across with drainage holes. Pots dry out fast in summer, so check the soil often.
How far apart should I plant dwarf orange trees?
Plant dwarf citrus about 8 feet apart center to center. Give a standalone tree 8 to 10 feet from other trees. The Spacing tab can count trees for a row.
Which size should I buy?
The 15 gallon is the easier tree to cover on frosty nights while it roots in. The 25 gallon gives you more size at planting. The size guide describes each one.
How often should I water an orange tree?
In the ground, water deeply out past the edge of the canopy, 2 to 3 feet down. Established trees need water about every 7 to 14 days in summer and every 3 to 4 weeks in winter. Young trees need water every few days at first.
When should I fertilize it?
Split the year's citrus fertilizer into three feedings. Apply one in January or February, one in March or April, and one in May or June.
How cold can an Arizona Sweet orange take?
Sweet orange trees are rated to about 24°F, but the fruit is more tender than the tree. Cover young trees with frost cloth to the ground on freezing nights, and water the day before.
Do I need two orange trees to get fruit?
No. Sweet oranges are self-pollinating, so a single tree sets fruit. Other citrus in the neighborhood also provides pollen if it is ever needed.
Is an orange tree safe for dogs and cats?
No. Orange trees are listed as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Chewing the peel, leaves or stems can cause vomiting, diarrhea and depression, so keep pets from chewing on the tree.
Dwarf Arizona Sweet Orange for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Dwarf Arizona Sweet brings the classic Valley juice and eating orange to a smaller tree, for tight yards and large patio pots. Below are the questions homeowners ask most, from size, pots and spacing to harvest, watering, feeding and frost.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
How big does a dwarf orange tree get?
Expect about 8 to 10 feet tall and about as wide in the ground. A standard Arizona Sweet grows about 10 to 20 feet tall, so the dwarf fits a small yard or patio.
Can you grow a dwarf orange tree in a pot in Phoenix?
Yes. Dwarf citrus are the best choice for pots, and a potted orange can be moved out of the hottest afternoon sun. Plan on a pot about 20 to 24 inches across with drainage holes. Pots dry out fast in summer and heat up near west walls and pavement.
Do dwarf orange trees give full size fruit?
Yes. Dwarf, semi-dwarf and standard citrus trees bear the same size fruit. Only the tree is smaller, so you get regular fruit from a tree that fits a small space.
What is an Arizona Sweet orange?
Arizona Sweet is a trade name for a group of sweet oranges that ripen in fall and winter. It covers varieties such as Hamlin, Diller, Marrs, Pineapple and Trovita, all good for juice and fresh eating.
How far apart do you plant dwarf citrus?
Plant dwarf citrus trees about 8 feet apart center to center, and give a standalone tree 8 to 10 feet. The spacing calculator can count trees for a row.
When do Arizona Sweet oranges ripen in Phoenix?
Fruit is ready from about November through February. Oranges do not ripen after picking, and they keep sweetening on the tree. Taste one to tell, because color is not a reliable sign.
When to fertilize oranges in Arizona
Oranges get three feedings a year. Apply one in January or February, one in March or April, and one in May or June.
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