Seville sour orange tree with rough-skinned bright orange fruit, white blossoms and dark green leaves

Seville Sour Orange

Citrus × aurantium
Categories:
Citrus  ·  
Oranges
Light
Full sun
Water
Deep, regular irrigation, especially during extreme heat and fruit development. Let the upper few inches of soil dry between waterings; wet the established root zone approximately 2–3 feet deep. Keep irrigation away from the trunk.
Size
20-30 ft tall × 15-25 ft wide
Habit
Upright tree – single-trunk (rounded)
Toxicity
Toxic — Pets & Humans
Description
A thorny citrus tree with glossy foliage, intensely fragrant blossoms, and orange fruit with sour, bitter juice and aromatic peel; traditionally used for marmalade.
Bloom Time
Winter to spring
Deciduous / Evergreen
Evergreen
Special Features
Attracts Bees / Pollinators, Edible, Fragrant
Growth Rate
Moderate
Growth Habit
Upright tree – single-trunk (rounded)
Mature Size
20-30 ft tall × 15-25 ft wide
Flower Color
White
Foliage Color
Dark green
Landscape Use
Container / Patio, Edible / Orchard, Fragrance Garden, Hedge / Screen, Specimen / Accent
Garden Style
Edible Garden, Hedge / Formal, Pollinator / Wildlife
Soil
Alkaline Tolerant, Well-Drained
Companion Plants
Autumn sage, Bulbine, Society garlic
Toxic — Pets & Humans
Toxic to pets (citrus oils); fruit edible for humans
Care Instructions

Light: Full sun; young trees benefit from afternoon shade during Phoenix summers.

Water: Deep, regular irrigation, especially during extreme heat and fruit development. Let the upper few inches of soil dry between waterings; wet the established root zone approximately 2–3 feet deep. Keep irrigation away from the trunk.

Soil: Well-drained soil; tolerates moderately alkaline conditions but may develop iron deficiency in highly alkaline soil. Avoid waterlogged locations and plant with the root flare slightly above grade.

Mature size: Typically 15–25 feet tall and 12–20 feet wide; size varies with rootstock and pruning.

Bloom: Primarily late winter through spring in Phoenix, usually February–April; fruit ripens the following winter.

Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen.

Growth rate: Moderate.