Valencia Orange Tree (Height: 3 - 4 FT Shape: Standard)
The Valencia Orange is a late-season sweet summer orange that is widely used for its brightly-colored, sweet-tart juice. Although named after the city of Valencia, Spain which is popular for its numerous orange trees and citrus trees grown, the majority of Valencia Oranges are actually grown in the United States. It was first hybridized by American-born turned Mexican citizen William Wolfskill, a land developer and pioneer American agronomist, on his farm in Santa Ana, southern California in the mid-19th century. The Valencia Orange Tree is an evergreen, flowering tree species Citrus x sinensis of the family Rutaceae. This citrus tree is a cold tolerant, disease resistant fruit tree that is best planted and grown in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant USDA hardiness zones 8 through 11, although various conditions can influence and affect its growth. The Valencia Orange Tree when planted in the ground can reach the height of 8’-12’ upon reaching maturity or remain smaller when planted in a container indoor in USDA growing zones 4 to 7. Valencia Orange Trees produce fragrant, large, white blooms in spring that are a great contrast against the dark-green foliage and look incredible amid dormant winter plants. Once successfully pollinated, the blooms would be replaced by small green oranges that mature into medium-sized orange with few seeds and excellent taste with brightly colored flesh and juice. The Valencia orange is great for eating and the top orange for juicing.