Citrus species and selections

The genus Citrus has many members with more being added back into this genus with each revision. The entire group is extremely productive and successful in south-eastern Australia, as witnessed both by the Riverland industry and the backyard lemon tree.

In Australia, two rootstocks have been used for the vast majority of citrus except lemons: ‘Citrange’ and P. trifoliata. Both of these rootstocks produce a grafted tree with high production and vigorous growth. In the citrus world, a dwarfing rootstock would be very beneficial as it would bring more fruit to eye level and allow cheaper harvest. There is a dwarf rootstock, the Chinese ‘Flying Dragon’, P. trifoliata var. monstrosa (original mutation from P.trifoliata in China). Prolific seed producer with few zygotic or off-type seedlings. It is the only commonly available citrus dwarfing rootstock. It is twice as slow to grow as its parent. Varieties budded or grafted to this rootstock will be half normal size (1-2.5 m) but will bear prolific crops of normal sized fruit and respond well to shaping. This dwarfing rootstock is ideal for containers, poorer draining acidic soils or confined spaces.

Metropolitan Tree Growers is pleased to have a range of citrus grafted both onto ‘Citrange’ and ‘Flying Dragon’. We purchased Ian Tolley’s citrus collection, his lifetime of collecting and growing. The citrus we have includes:

• ‘Clemantine Mandarine’
• ‘Washington Navel’
• ‘Pink Pumelo’
• ‘Star Ruby Grapefruit’
• and commercial lemons, limes and oranges.

The citrus from this collection will be available in 40litre, 75litre and 600litre sizes. Ring for specific availability.

Citrus aurantium: Sour Orange. We asked Ian Tolley to custom propagate a number of high-grafted (at 4m) Sour Orange plants for landscape use. These trees have all of the characters found in citrus grown in southern Europe, especially Spain. We believe that these trees will be ideal for giving Mediterranean style to a courtyard, building entrance or formal planting. These trees are being shaped for ideal size and form, and will be available as 75litre plants in 2005.

Typical mature height:

to 4-8m in urban settings

Useful in:

planter/display boxes, courtyards

Sites for best growth:

most, ample water best