Permascaping, by Homegrown Foods
Orlando tangelo fruit growing on a citrus tree

Wholesale citrus

Orlando tangelo

Citrus × tangelo ‘Orlando’

Also known as Orlando

A Dancy tangerine and Duncan grapefruit cross with mild, very juicy fruit, ripe early in the winter. It sets far more fruit with another mandarin or tangelo nearby.

EdibleTangeloEarly seasonJuicy
Check the current program →
Landscape layersLower canopy
Mature sizeUsually 10–20 ft tall and wide; rootstock and pruning change final size
Climate fitUrban core · USDA 9b–10a · Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b · Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b
Special categoriesEDIBLE
Hardiness guidanceTypically USDA 9–11; frost tolerance varies by cultivar and microclimate
Winter chillNone
Typical harvestNovember through January

Before you plant

These conditions determine whether it will thrive.

Required microclimatePlacement is part of the growing system.

Zone B — sun morning and afternoon on the open south-facing side. Tough enough for full exposure and more productive for the extra hours.

Right plant, right place

Will Orlando tangelo grow at your Arizona property?

Plant in fast-draining soil with the graft union above grade. Keep mulch away from the trunk and avoid lawn irrigation at the root crown.

Best regional fit: Urban core · USDA 9b–10a, Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b, Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b.

Light

Sun exposure

Full sun; young trunks and exposed scaffold limbs need sunburn protection

Water

Irrigation

Deep, regular irrigation with drying between cycles; expand the wetted zone as the canopy grows

Fruit set

Pollination

Partly self-fruitful; heavier crops with another mandarin or tangelo nearby

Harvest

How to use it

Juice and fresh eating

Planting & stewardship

How to help Orlando tangelo thrive

  1. 1

    Verify both the named cultivar and rootstock on the nursery tag before planting.

  2. 2

    Whitewash newly exposed bark and protect cold-sensitive trees during hard freezes.

  3. 3

    Feed in several light applications during the active season rather than one heavy dose.

  4. 4

    Let fruit color and flavor—not a calendar date alone—confirm harvest readiness.