Among the numerous citrus tree cultivars, the Tangerine tree is one of the most cultivated fruiting trees grown by home gardeners and commercial growers. Tangerine trees have dense evergreen foliage, wonderfully scented blooms, and attractive red-orange fruits that are both sweet and flavorful.
Tangerine trees are cold-hardy and can survive drought and cold temperatures better than other citrus trees. These trees can be grown directly in the ground in the U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8b through 11, and can be grown in a pot then moved indoors during winter months within zones 4 or lower. The standard Tangerine tree height is about 10 to 15 feet, although some recorded older Tangerine trees have grown up to 25 feet tall. A dwarf Tangerine tree, on the other hand, can grow to about 6 to 8 feet high. Keep in mind though, that a potted Tangerine tree tends to grow smaller because of restricted root space which can limit the tree’s size.
Tangerine Tree Varieties
If you wish to grow a tangerine tree we highly advise that you buy a Tangerine tree for sale from a reputable nursery rather than growing it from seed as the tree you grow from seed may not bear the fruits you are expecting.
Below is a list of Tangerine tree varieties you may grow in US soil.
- Dancy Tangerine tree – the Dancy Tangerine tree is one of the oldest tangerine varieties that parented numerous citrus cultivars like Minneola and Orlando Tangelos, Frua and Fortune Mandarine oranges, and more. It is a nearly-thornless, large, vigorously growing tree with an upright growth habit. It produces seedy, deep-orange, sweet fruits that are easy-to-peel and segment. This variety tends to be alternate-bearing and is prone to Alternaria fungus that causes defoliation and reduced fruit production.
- Satsuma Tangerine tree – this evergreen citrus tree has a dense growth habit and droopy branches that are mostly covered with glossy, dark-green foliage. It produces small-sized sweet-tasting juicy fruit that is easy to peel. Satsuma Tangerine tree care includes adequate and regular watering, pruning suckers that grow below the graft section, and proper fertilization.
- Sunburst Tangerine tree – Sunburst tangerine is named for the sun-shape found on the stem end of the fruit. It is popular even among tangerine varieties because of the supremely sweet, juicy flavor. The moderately vigorous thornless Sunburst tree has an upright and spreading growth habit. It has dark-green foliage that provides a great backdrop for the beautiful blooms and deep-orange fruits during the flowering and fruiting season.
- Murcott Tangerine tree – the Murcott tree, also called the Honey Tangerine tree, is a hybrid between another tangerine and a sweet orange cultivar. This fruiting tree is moderate in size and vigor and has willowy branches that hold medium-sized, sugary-sweet ,flavor-rich fruits that are ready for picking from mid-winter to early spring. Just like other tangerine varieties, Murcott Tangerine trees are susceptible to Alternaria fungus.
- Algerian Tangerine tree – the Algerian Tangerine tree is an attractive, moderately vigorous tree with a weeping growth habit. It has dense foliage and makes a lovely ornamental tree because the deep-colored fruits will remain for a few months past their maturity. The fruits of the Algerian Tangerine tree do not require as much heat as other varieties and can be successfully grown in colder regions.