Sunburst Tangerine Tree – Live Grafted Plant – Half Gallon Pot

Overview

Bring the vibrant taste of fresh citrus to your home with the sunburst tangerine tree. This exceptional live plant, offered in a convenient half-gallon pot, is specifically grafted to ensure robust growth and earlier fruit production. The Sunburst tangerine varietal is cherished for its small to medium-sized, oblate fruits with a distinctive flattened top and bottom. The rind is smooth, thin, and remarkably easy to peel, revealing a saturated orange flesh divided into 11 to 14 succulent segments. Each grafted tangerine plant is a testament to quality, promising a tender, aqueous, and juicy consistency that is simply irresistible. This tree is perfect for both experienced gardeners and those new to citrus cultivation, providing a rewarding experience as you watch your own delicious tangerines grow.

The Sunburst tangerine is not just a fruit producer; it’s also an attractive addition to any garden or patio. Its glossy foliage and potential for bright orange fruit create a visually appealing focal point. Whether you’re looking to enhance your landscape or enjoy fresh fruit right from your backyard, a sunburst tangerine tree is an excellent choice. Its aromatic qualities and high sugar and acidity levels create a perfectly balanced flavor profile that makes Sunburst tangerines a favorite among citrus enthusiasts.

Key Benefits

Investing in a sunburst tangerine tree offers numerous advantages for any home gardener or citrus lover. This productive live plant brings both beauty and bounty to your space, making it a truly valuable addition:

• Delicious Homegrown Fruit: Enjoy the unparalleled taste of fresh, sweet, and juicy Sunburst tangerines picked directly from your own tree. The fruit is known for its high sugar and acidity levels, creating a perfectly balanced flavor.
• Easy-to-Peel Rind: The thin, smooth rind of Sunburst tangerines makes them incredibly easy to peel, perfect for snacking or adding to recipes without hassle.
• Versatile Growing Options: This grafted tangerine plant can thrive in containers on patios or be planted directly in the ground in suitable climates (USDA Zones 8-10), offering flexibility for various gardening setups.
• Attractive Ornamental Value: With its glossy green leaves and potential for bright orange fruit, the sunburst tangerine tree adds significant aesthetic appeal to any garden, patio, or even indoors with proper light.
• Health Benefits: Tangerines are packed with vitamins and antioxidants, contributing to a healthy diet and lifestyle. Growing your own ensures a fresh, chemical-free source of these nutrients.
• Rewarding Gardening Experience: Cultivating a fruit-bearing tree from a young grafted tangerine plant offers immense satisfaction and a connection to nature, watching it grow and produce.
• Aromatic Presence: The foliage and blossoms of the sunburst tangerine tree emit a pleasant citrusy aroma, enhancing the sensory experience of your garden or home.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Proper care is essential for a thriving sunburst tangerine tree. These tropical plants require specific conditions to produce bountiful, delicious fruit. When planting in containers, ensure you use a well-draining soil mix, such as a cactus mix, as these trees dislike “wet feet” which can lead to root rot. For outdoor planting, ensure your climate falls within USDA Zones 8-10. Sunlight is critical for a healthy sunburst tangerine tree; it needs at least six hours of full sun exposure daily. If growing indoors, place it by a south-facing window and consider supplementing with a grow light to meet its light requirements.

Watering should be consistent but not excessive. Allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out between waterings. Overwatering is a common issue and can be detrimental. During periods of consistent temperatures above 90°F, especially for younger trees, some wilting may occur. During these times, it can be beneficial to provide some afternoon shade. Fertilization is also crucial for a productive grafted tangerine plant. These trees require both macro and micronutrients, with a particular need for high nitrogen. Use a balanced citrus-specific fertilizer or one with a higher nitrogen (N) ratio in the N-P-K formula. Regular feeding, especially during growing seasons, will support healthy foliage and fruit development. Understanding sunburst tangerine care will lead to a successful harvest.

Protect your sunburst tangerine tree from frost if you live in an area prone to cold snaps. Container-grown trees can be moved indoors or to a protected area. For in-ground trees, consider covering them or using frost cloths when temperatures drop significantly. Pruning is generally minimal, focusing on removing dead or diseased branches and shaping the tree for better air circulation and light penetration. With proper attention to light, water, soil, and nutrients, your growing tangerine tree will flourish and reward you with an abundance of sweet fruit.

Size & Details

This sunburst tangerine tree is a live, grafted plant provided in a half-gallon nursery pot. Grafting ensures a stronger rootstock and often leads to earlier fruit production compared to seed-grown trees. The plant you receive will be similar in size and vigor to the product images, ready to be transplanted into a larger container or directly into your garden. Sunburst tangerines are a small to medium-sized varietal, with fruits typically averaging 6 to 7 centimeters in diameter. The tree’s overall size will depend on whether it’s container-grown or planted in the ground, and with proper sunburst tangerine care, it can reach a manageable size for home cultivation.

The fruits have an oblate shape with a flattened top and bottom, and a broad, curved center. The rind is dark orange-red, smooth, thin, and easy to peel. Underneath, the saturated orange flesh is divided into 11 to 14 segments, comprised of tiny vesicles filled with juice. While typically containing few seeds, there can be anywhere from 1 to 20 ivory oval seeds depending on pollination. This grafted tangerine plant is designed for home gardeners looking for a reliable and productive citrus tree. You’ll enjoy the fresh, aromatic fruit and the satisfaction of growing tangerine tree right at home.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this sunburst tangerine tree get? A: The mature size of your tree depends on whether it’s grown in a container or in the ground. In containers, it can be kept smaller with pruning, typically 6-10 feet. In the ground in suitable climates, it can reach 10-15 feet.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: This grafted tangerine plant is shipped in a half-gallon nursery pot, ready for you to transplant into a larger container or directly into your garden soil.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The sunburst tangerine tree can be grown outdoors in USDA Zones 8-10. In colder climates, it is best grown in a container and brought indoors during winter, making it a versatile option for many gardeners.
• Q: How much sunlight does a growing tangerine tree need? A: It requires at least six hours of full sunlight per day for optimal growth and fruit production. If indoors, place it in the brightest possible location, ideally a south-facing window, and consider supplemental grow lights.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: With consistent attention to its basic needs—sunlight, watering, and fertilization—a sunburst tangerine tree is relatively easy to care for. Following guidelines for sunburst tangerine care will ensure its health.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: You will receive one healthy grafted tangerine plant in a half-gallon pot, similar to the pictures, carefully packaged to ensure its safe arrival.
• Q: How long until it produces fruit? A: As a grafted plant, your dwarf tangerine tree can start producing fruit within 1-3 years under optimal growing conditions, much faster than seed-grown trees.
• Q: Can I keep this as a dwarf tangerine tree? A: Yes, with proper pruning and container growing, you can maintain the sunburst tangerine tree at a smaller, more manageable size, suitable for patios or indoor spaces.
• Q: What is the best soil type for growing tangerine tree? A: A well-draining soil mix is crucial. For containers, a citrus-specific potting mix or a blend with good drainage like cactus soil is recommended. For in-ground planting, ensure your native soil drains well.
• Q: What are the main nutrients needed for sunburst tangerine care? A: Tangerine trees need macronutrients like Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium, with a higher emphasis on nitrogen for foliage growth. They also require various micronutrients. Use a specialized citrus fertilizer.