Seville sour orange
Also known as: bitter orange, Chinotto-related
The bitter orange of marmalade and bergamot-adjacent culinary use, and historically the dominant rootstock until CTV decline. Not a dessert fruit.
Across the consideration criteria
How it grows
- Cold hardiness
- 24°F
- Ripening
- Mid-season
- Vigor
- Moderate-Vigorous
- Disease tolerance
- Moderate
- Drainage need
- Well
- Soil pH
- 6–7.5
- Graft requirement
- Graft Required
- US availability
- Available
Considerations
Canopy killed at about 24°F.
Needs high heat to colour and sweeten.
Mid-season fruit (Dec-Feb).
moderate-vigorous
Prefers a pH band of 6–7.5.
These are intrinsic to the citrus. On a real property, Folia scores each against your site; here they're shown on their own.
Grows alike
similar to growCara Cara navel orange
ripens in the same window · wants the same heat to ripen
Pineapple orange
ripens in the same window · wants the same heat to ripen
Salustiana orange
ripens in the same window · wants the same heat to ripen
Ambersweet orange
wants the same heat to ripen · holds on the tree the same way
Moro blood orange
wants the same heat to ripen · holds on the tree the same way
Tarocco blood orange
wants the same heat to ripen · holds on the tree the same way
Climate-adapted alternatives
more resilient picksCara Cara navel orange
similar cold hardiness · ripens in a similar season
Pineapple orange
similar cold hardiness · ripens in a similar season
Salustiana orange
similar cold hardiness · ripens in a similar season
Pera orange
similar cold hardiness · ripens in a similar season
Westin orange
similar cold hardiness · ripens in a similar season
Ambersweet orange
similar cold hardiness · similar heat requirement
Could Seville sour orange grow on your land?
See how Seville sour orange scores against your specific property, with local precedent, climate, and the tradeoffs for your ground.
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