Mandarin
- Mandarin Trees can live for up to 30 years.
- They can be used as hedges.
- Annual pruning, once the tree reaches its desired height, will promote prolific fruiting
- The leaves can be infused for a morning drink.
Citrus reticulata
Common names: Raiatea (most common variety in Vanuatu), Mandarin orange, Mandarine (French)
Small-sized tree that grows up to 9 m in height. Long slender branches. Often has spiny stems. Raiatea variety has an erect bearing that is cone shaped.
Leaves
6-8 cm in length. The shape is rhombic, acute, lanceolate with the margins irregularly crenate or crenulate (serrated).
Flowers
Fragrant, single or in small clusters. The flowers are small, star shaped and white.
Fruit
6 cm. Oblate-globose to depressed-subconcave globose. They have a thin yellow to bright orange to red-orange peel when ripe. The pulp is pale to rich orange and the juice is mild to sweet.
- First fully open flower
- Less than half the tree is in full flower
- More than half the tree is in full flower
- All of the tree is in full flower
- No flowering
- Less than half the tree has fruit
- More than half the tree has fruit
- All of the tree has fruit
- No fruit
- Green fruit present
- Ripened fruit present
When to Look
- Year round
- Flowering can occur nearly year-round but mainly occurs after the winter months in spring. Multiple flowering periods can occur in the tropics.
- Fruiting follows flowering.
Where to Look
- Grows well in sandy loam soil.
- In the tropics it grows best between 370 and 1550 m.
Similar Species
All citrus have dark green and waxy leaves and sweet-smelling flowers. They can be differentiated by their fruit.
