Citrus sinensis 'Moro'
Light: Full sun, ideally 6–8 hours daily; young trees benefit from protection from intense western afternoon sun in Phoenix.
Water: Deep, regular irrigation; not drought tolerant. Let the upper few inches of soil dry between waterings. Established trees commonly need watering every 7–14 days in summer and every 3–4 weeks in winter, adjusted for soil, weather, and tree size. Water young trees more frequently and keep irrigation away from the trunk.
Soil: Well-drained sandy loam or loam. Tolerates Phoenix’s alkaline soils but may develop iron deficiency. Avoid poorly drained sites, break through restrictive caliche where feasible, and keep the root flare above soil level.
Mature size: Typically 15–20 feet tall and 12–20 feet wide on standard rootstock; dwarfing rootstocks and pruning can maintain trees around 8–12 feet.
Bloom: Usually blooms in late winter through spring, primarily February–April in Phoenix. Fruit generally ripens December–March, depending on weather.
Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen.
Growth rate: Moderate.