Tangerine Sunburst 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 Sunburst TreeThe Tangerine Sunburst Tree produces medium-sized, deep orange fruits with a smooth, easy-to-peel rind that reveals juicy, segmented flesh bursting with a harmonious sweet-tart flavor, balancing high sugar content with bright, tangy acidity for a refreshing and intense citrus experience. The flesh is tender, succulent, and aromatic, often containing few to many small seeds depending on pollination, while the juice offers a vibrant, floral note perfect for snacking, juicing, or enhancing salads, desserts, and marinades. This early-season variety delivers a candy-like sweetness with mild acid undertones, making it a holiday favorite for its vitamin C-rich profile and zesty pop that evokes Florida's sunny groves, appealing to both children and adults for its convenient, seed-minimal segments and bold, uplifting taste.Common Names and OverviewCommonly known as Sunburst Tangerine, Sunburst Mandarin, or simply Sunburst Citrus, this evergreen hybrid traces its origins to a 1961 cross between Robinson tangerine and Osceola tangelo, released commercially in 1979 by the USDA in Florida as an improved early-season cultivar. It's also referred to as a complex tangerine-orange-grapefruit hybrid in some classifications, emphasizing its role in Florida's commercial orchards alongside varieties like Dancy or Honey. As a thornless, moderately vigorous tree with upright-spreading growth, it blends ornamental dark green foliage and fragrant white spring blooms with heavy, alternate-bearing fruit production, ideal for home gardens, patios, or containers. Growers appreciate its self-incompatible nature—requiring nearby pollinators like Temple or Minneola for optimal yields—positioning it as a reliable, space-efficient choice for edible landscapes in subtropical settings.Best Growing EnvironmentThe Tangerine Sunburst Tree thrives in warm, subtropical climates with hot summers and mild winters, such as Florida's citrus belts, where it benefits from wind protection and good air circulation to minimize mite issues while avoiding frost pockets. It prefers well-draining sandy loam or loamy soils enriched with organic matter like compost, maintaining a slightly acidic to neutral pH of 6.0 to 7.0 to support root health and prevent deficiencies. In container setups, use citrus-specific potting mixes for urban or marginal sites, and mulch with organic materials to regulate moisture and temperature; heavy clays demand raised beds to avert rot. This adaptable hybrid flourishes in humid, sunny havens that echo its Sunshine State heritage, yielding abundant crops in environments with consistent warmth above 40°F, though it tolerates light frosts with protection.Average Height and Growth RateThe Tangerine Sunburst Tree typically matures to an average height of 10 to 15 feet, with a spread of 8 to 10 feet, forming a compact, bushy canopy that's versatile for small yards, hedges, or large pots without dominating landscapes. On dwarf rootstock, it can be maintained at 6 to 10 feet through pruning, while standard forms may reach 20 feet in ideal conditions. The growth rate is moderate, adding 12 to 24 inches annually after initial establishment, with vigorous upright shoots emerging in spring flushes before settling into a rounded, dense habit. This steady progression enables fruiting within 3 to 4 years for grafted trees, though alternate bearing—heavy one year, lighter the next—benefits from thinning to sustain vigor and prevent branch stress.Sun RequirementsFull sun is vital for the Tangerine Sunburst Tree, demanding 6 to 8 hours of direct daily light to drive robust growth, vibrant rind coloration, and peak sweetness in its fruits. South- or west-facing exposures maximize this, averting leggy branches or diminished yields from shade, though light afternoon filtering in extreme heat curbs leaf scorch. In containers or cooler zones, position near bright windows or supplement with grow lights to replicate these conditions, as inadequate sun leads to sparse blooms and off-flavors. Optimal brightness enhances its juicy, aromatic qualities, transforming the tree into a productive, sun-loving staple for sun-drenched patios or orchards.Cold HardinessThe Tangerine Sunburst Tree offers moderate cold hardiness for a citrus, withstanding brief dips to 25°F (-4°C) on mature specimens but requiring frost cloth or indoor relocation for young plants below 28°F to protect buds and foliage. It's reliably hardy in USDA zones 8 to 11, excelling in zone 9's sheltered spots with mulch insulation; prolonged freezes damage fruit, but recovery is quick with spring warmth. In zone 8, site near south-facing walls for microclimate benefits, and for zones below 8, container culture permits overwintering above 50°F. This resilience suits transitional areas, though vigilance against late frosts ensures consistent early-winter harvests.Water RequirementsThe Tangerine Sunburst Tree requires consistent moderate moisture to nurture its shallow roots, providing 1 to 2 inches weekly through deep soakings to keep soil evenly damp without saturation—crucial for juicy fruit and root rot prevention. Newly planted trees need twice-weekly watering in the first year, reducing to every 7 to 10 days for established ones, always checking 1 to 2 inches deep for dryness before irrigating. Taper in winter to rainfall reliance, using drip irrigation for efficiency; overwatering fosters diseases, while drought yields small, dry fruits. Mulch conserves hydration in heat, and pots demand more frequent vigilance due to rapid drying, promoting balanced care for flavorful, abundant yields.Planting Guide
- Select a grafted Sunburst sapling in 1- to 3-gallon pots during spring or fall, choosing healthy, thornless specimens with vibrant foliage for fruiting in 3-4 years.
- Pick a full-sun site with well-draining sandy loam (pH 6.0-7.0); amend with compost if needed and space 8-10 feet apart or use 15-20 gallon drained pots for containers.
- Dig a hole twice as wide and as deep as the root ball, positioning the graft union 1-2 inches above soil level to deter rot.
- Gently loosen circling roots, backfill with soil-organic mix, and tamp lightly to eliminate air pockets without compacting.
- Water deeply post-planting until drainage flows freely, then apply 2-3 inches of mulch to the drip line, keeping it 4 inches from the trunk.
- For pots, fill with citrus mix and place in sunny, sheltered spots; stake young trees against winds.
- Monitor for settling in the first month, providing temporary shade in heat and nearby pollinators like Temple for better sets.
- Timing: Begin in early spring (February-March) post-dormancy to spur growth, followed by mid-spring (April-May) for blooms, early summer (June) for fruit development, and a light fall application (September) post-harvest; avoid winter to prevent tender shoots.
- Frequency: Every 6-8 weeks during active growth (March-September) for young trees, quarterly for matures, splitting total nitrogen into three doses to match demands without excess.
- Specific Recommendations: Use a balanced citrus fertilizer like 8-8-8 or 6-4-6 NPK (e.g., Espoma Citrus-Tone or slow-release 4-0-8) at 1 pound actual nitrogen per year for matures, divided across applications; supplement micronutrients (iron, zinc) via foliar if yellowing occurs, or organics like blood meal for phosphorus.
- Application Tips: Broadcast under the canopy to the drip line, then irrigate deeply; annual soil tests guide pH and needs, favoring slow-release to minimize burn and support heavy crops.