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Fruit tree

Orange

Citrus × sinensis · also Sweet orange, Washington navel, Valencia orange

Sweet oranges grow well in Adelaide's warm, dry summers, as the Riverland orchards show. Washington navels are the classic eating orange, ripening in winter; Valencias ripen in spring and summer and are best for juice. Plant in full sun with free drainage, feed well and water deeply in summer.

When to plant where you live

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Planting times for other areas

Varieties (4)

  • Lane LateWashington navel selection that matures a couple of months later
  • NavelinaEarly navel; often sold as a dwarf tree for pots
  • ValenciaJuicing orange; ripens late and holds well on the tree into summer
  • Washington navelSeedless eating orange; ripens in winter

Neighbours

Grows well with

From seed to plate

  1. Plant

    500 cm apart. Full sun.

  2. Water

    Deep watering weekly in summer.

  3. Feed

    Citrus food in late winter and late summer.

  4. Pick

    Taste-test; colour comes before sweetness.

Good to know

  • Plant in spring after frosts so the roots settle in before summer heat
  • Dig the hole wide, not deep; citrus roots are shallow and spreading
  • Pick off fruit for the first year or two so young trees build size
  • Valencias hold on the tree for months; pick as needed

Common problems

  • Citrus gall wasp (swellings on twigs)cut off and destroy galls before late spring when wasps emerge
  • Yellow leavesoften hunger or wet feet; feed with a citrus fertiliser and check drainage
  • Scale and sooty mouldcontrol the ants that farm them; use horticultural oil following label directions
  • Fruit splitting or droppingwater deeply and evenly, especially in late summer
  • Collar rotkeep mulch and soil off the trunk; don't over-water heavy soils

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 orangeAny question, answered from the plant libraryHow others are growing orangeQuestions, tips and harvests from the community

Guides

Wildlife

Good for: bees.

Safety: ASPCA lists orange as toxic to dogs, cats and horses (essential oils and psoralens): vomiting, diarrhoea and skin irritation. The fruit flesh is a common food.

Where this information comes from

Reviewed by AI cross-check (Claude), not a horticulturist on 29 Oct 2026. Version 1.