Tangerine Honey Murcott Tree
Sale
Original price
$59.00
Original price
$59.00
-
Original price
$59.00
Original price
$59.00
Current price
$29.00
$29.00
-
$29.00
Current price
$29.00
Taste of the Tangerine Honey Murcott TreeThe Tangerine Honey Murcott , a tangor hybrid of mandarin and sweet orange (Citrus reticulata x sinensis), delivers fruit with an exceptionally rich, honey-like sweetness that dominates the palate, balanced by a subtle tanginess and floral undertones for a complex, refreshing profile. The deep orange, juicy flesh bursts with high sugar content and minimal acidity, yielding a smooth, velvety texture ideal for fresh eating, juicing, or incorporating into salads, desserts, and marinades. Easy-to-peel with a thin, fragrant rind, the medium-sized orbs often contain a few small seeds, but their vibrant red-orange juice and candy-like burst make them a winter favorite, often harvested from late January to March. This superior flavor, superior to many mandarins, packs vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants, turning every segment into a nutritious, sun-kissed treat that evokes Florida orchards in the coldest months.Common Names and OverviewCommonly known as Honey Murcott Tangerine, Murcott Mandarin, or simply Honey Tangerine, this evergreen citrus traces its roots to early 20th-century Florida, likely emerging from a USDA breeding program around 1916 and popularized by Charles Murcott Smith. It's also referred to as W. Murcott or Smith Tangerine in historical contexts, though modern naming avoids confusion with California's distinct Honey Mandarin variety. As a late-season tangor, it stands out for its prolific, alternate-bearing habit and ornamental appeal, with glossy dark green leaves, fragrant white spring blooms, and a dense canopy that suits hedges, patios, or containers. Home growers cherish its self-fertile nature and juicy yields, blending edible productivity with year-round tropical elegance in subtropical landscapes.Best Growing EnvironmentThe Tangerine Honey Murcott flourishes in warm, subtropical climates with hot summers and mild winters, such as Florida's central and southern regions, where it avoids frost pockets and benefits from wind protection to safeguard ripening fruit. It prefers well-draining, slightly acidic sandy loam soils (pH 6.0-7.0) enriched with organic matter like compost for fertility and moisture retention, steering clear of heavy clays that promote root rot. In containers, it adapts well to urban settings with mobility for optimal light and temperature, while mulching with organic materials suppresses weeds and stabilizes soil conditions. Prone to alternaria and citrus scab, it demands good air circulation; overall, it mirrors its Florida heritage in humid, sunny havens that yield heavy crops without collapse from overbearing.Average Height and Growth RateThe Tangerine Honey Murcott reaches an average mature height of 12 to 15 feet, with a spread of 8 to 10 feet, developing a moderately vigorous, upright form with willowy branches that can be pruned to 8-12 feet for compact bush-like growth in smaller spaces. On semi-dwarf rootstock, it maintains accessibility for harvesting, while standard forms may exceed 20 feet in ideal conditions. The growth rate is moderate, adding 12 to 24 inches annually after establishment, with initial focus on root development before branching accelerates in spring flushes. This steady pace supports reliable fruiting within 3-5 years for grafted trees, though alternate bearing—heavy one year, light the next—necessitates thinning to sustain vigor and prevent decline.Sun RequirementsFull sun is paramount for the Tangerine Honey Murcott , requiring 6 to 8 hours of direct daily exposure to promote lush foliage, abundant blooms, and the sweetest, most colorful fruit with optimal juice content. South- or west-facing sites maximize this, preventing leggy growth or off-flavors from shade, though light afternoon filtering in intense heat wards off leaf scorch. In containers or northern edges of its range, supplemental lighting indoors ensures productivity, as insufficient rays diminish yields and rind quality. Bright conditions enhance its deep orange hue and honeyed essence, making sunny placements essential for transforming this tree into a bountiful, fragrant performer.Cold HardinessThe Tangerine Honey Murcott exhibits good cold hardiness for a citrus, tolerating brief drops to 25°F (-4°C) on mature trees without severe damage, though fruit quality suffers below freezing and young plants need frost cloth or indoor relocation. It's reliably suited to USDA zones 9-11, thriving in frost-free subtropical areas like Florida or coastal California; in zone 9a, mulch roots deeply and site near heat-retaining walls for protection. Alternate bearing heightens sensitivity to cold stress post-heavy crops, but recovery is robust with spring warmth. For zones 8 or below, container cultivation allows overwintering in bright, cool spots above 50°F, extending its reach while preserving evergreen charm.Water RequirementsThe Tangerine Honey Murcott relies on consistent, moderate moisture to nurture its shallow roots, delivering 1 to 2 inches weekly via deep soakings during growth to maintain even soil dampness without waterlogging—essential for juicy fruit and disease prevention. Newly established trees demand twice-weekly watering in the first year, easing to every 7-10 days for matures, always probing 2 inches deep for dryness before irrigating. Reduce in winter to rainfall levels, and use drip systems to target roots; overwatering fosters rot, while drought yields dry, seedy fruits. Mulch conserves hydration in heat, and containers require more frequent checks due to faster evaporation, ensuring balanced care for peak sweetness and vigor.Planting Guide
- Choose a grafted Honey Murcott sapling in 3- to 5-gallon pots during spring or fall, verifying healthy roots and no pests for swift fruiting within 2-3 years.
- Select a full-sun site with well-draining, loamy soil (pH 6.0-7.0); amend with compost if needed and space 6-8 feet from others for airflow and spread.
- Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball but equally deep, positioning the graft union 1-2 inches above soil level to avoid rot.
- Loosen circling roots, backfill with native soil blended 50/50 with organic matter, and tamp gently to eliminate pockets without compacting.
- Water deeply post-planting to hydrate roots, then apply 2-3 inches of mulch like wood chips to the drip line, keeping it 4 inches from the trunk.
- For containers, use a 15-20 gallon drained pot with citrus mix; place in sunny, sheltered spots and monitor for tip-over in winds.
- Provide temporary shade for transplants in heat, staking if necessary, and thin heavy fruit sets annually to avert tree stress.
- Timing: Fertilize in early spring (February-March) to ignite growth, mid-spring (April-May) for bloom support, early summer (June) for fruit swell, and fall (September-October) with half-rates as fruit ripens; withhold in winter to harden off against cold.
- Frequency: Every 4-6 weeks during active growth (March-September) for young trees, quarterly for matures, adjusting for light crop years to avoid excess.
- Specific Recommendations: Use a citrus-formulated balanced fertilizer like 8-8-8 or 10-10-10 NPK (e.g., Espoma Citrus-Tone) at 1-2 pounds per year of age, split across applications; boost with high-potassium (up to 400 lbs K2O/acre in heavy years) and micronutrients like iron/zinc via foliar if leaves yellow, or organics such as bone meal for phosphorus in winter.
- Application Tips: Spread under the canopy to the drip line, followed by deep irrigation; soil test annually for pH/nutrients, and thin fruit on heavy bearers to balance demands without collapse.