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Fruit tree

Mandarin

Citrus reticulata

An easy, compact citrus that's ideal for Adelaide backyards and large pots, with sweet fruit from autumn to spring depending on variety. Like all citrus it needs full sun, free drainage and regular feeding. Choose a mix of early and late varieties to stretch the season.

When to plant where you live

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Planting times for other areas

Varieties (3)

  • EmperorMid-season, large easy-peel fruit; reliable
  • Honey MurcottLate-season, very sweet and juicy; harder to peel
  • ImperialEarly-season, easy-peel Australian favourite; can crop in alternate years

Neighbours

Grows well with

From seed to plate

  1. Plant

    400 cm apart. Full sun.

  2. Water

    Deep weekly water in summer.

  3. Feed

    Citrus food twice a year.

  4. Pick

    Pick when fully coloured.

Good to know

  • Feed with a citrus fertiliser in late winter and late summer
  • Keep mulch a hand-width away from the trunk
  • Dwarf rootstocks (e.g. Flying Dragon) suit pots and small yards

Common problems

  • Citrus gall waspcut off and destroy galls before late spring
  • Scale and sooty mouldcontrol ants; use horticultural oil following label directions
  • Heavy and light crops in alternate yearsthin fruit in a heavy year and feed well
  • Fruit splittingwater deeply and evenly through summer and autumn

If you use a garden chemical, follow the label exactly. Try organic options first, and ask the community or Plant Doctor if you're unsure.

Ask the garden helper about mandarinAny question, answered from the plant libraryHow others are growing mandarinQuestions, tips and harvests from the community

Guides

Safety: Mildly toxic to pets and children (leaves, peel).

Where this information comes from

Reviewed by AI cross-check (Claude), not a horticulturist on 27 Oct 2026. Version 2.