Orange trees are cultivated all around the world and are considered to be quite valuable, mainly for the production of oranges.
After all, oranges are one of the most popular fruits!
But just as there are different types of oranges, there are different types of orange trees. Or rather, different types of Citrus trees, as that is how they are officially known.
So if you’re curious about the different types of orange trees…stick around!
We have compiled a list with some of the main types of citrus and citrus hybrid orange trees, which fall under the common orange tree name. Plus, we’ll tell you a bit about each one!
Does that sound like something that might interest you?
We hope so, let’s get right into it!
1. Bergamot Orange Tree
The bergamot orange tree is officially known as the citrus bergamia. It is a small tree (sometimes a shrub) that bears the fruit of the Bergamot orange.
It blossoms during the winter, and the juice of the bergamot orange is less sour than that of lemon but more bitter than that of grapefruit, so it is somewhere in between.
The word bergamot, just in case you’re curious, comes from the Italian word bergamotto, which in turn comes from the Turkish “bey armut”. And this translates into lord’s pear.
Quite funny that this orange is named after a pear, right?
2. Bitter Orange Tree
The Bitter orange tree, officially known as the citrus aurantium, is sometimes more commonly known as the Seville orange.
It is native to Southeast Asia, but it has spread to the rest of the world, and is now especially popular in the region of Seville, in the south of Spain, much as its nickname suggests.
In fact, it was introduced in this region of Spain by the Moors, and has remained the main type of orange there since then!
This is a small tree, and it is a cross between the pomelo (citrus maxima) and the mandarin orange (citrus reticulata).
As the name indicates, it’s quite a bitter orange, but a lot of people prefer it to the normal type!
3. Chinese Honey Orange Tree
The Chinese honey orange tree, officially known as the citrus poonensis, is a type of citrus hybrid between the mandarin and the pomelo.
The oranges that it grows, commonly called ponkan oranges, are incredibly sweet, and they are especially heavy and juicy.
In fact, it is quite common for tree branches to break under the weight of the many ponkans grown!
This type of orange tree is commonly most cultivated in the United States, Brazil, Japan, and China. And there is actually an annual Ponkan festival to honor this type of orange, which is held every year in Teresopolis (Brazil).
4. Clementine Orange Tree
The Clementine orange tree is officially known as the citrus clementina.
It is a type of orange tree, which was first cultivated in Algeria by a French missionary named Clement Rodier, and that is where the name clementine comes from!
This type of orange tree is specifically a hybrid between mandarin oranges and sweet oranges.
It is juicy and sweet, with less acid than the typical orange, and what makes it so popular is that it is incredibly easy to peel! I
n fact, it is one of the most popular and common types of oranges consumed worldwide!
Nowadays, clementine oranges are mainly cultivated in hot regions, such as the Mediterranean regions, North Africa, and California. This is because they are highly sensitive to heat conditions!
5. Hassaku Orange Tree
The Hassaku orange tree, officially known as the citrus hassaku, is a type of citrus tree native to Japan. Specifically, the first Hassaku orange tree was found in Inno-Shima, near a temple.
The type of orange that it grows, the Hassaku, is the size of a grapefruit, and it is incredibly juicy, although to some it can be a little bitter.
Most often, it is eaten raw, and it is not recommended in cooking as this makes it even more bitter.
Nowadays, it is still mainly cultivated in Japan, where it was discovered. It isn’t very popular around the rest of the world, but it is incredibly healthy and renowned for its medicinal uses.
6. Indian Wild Orange Tree
The Indian wild orange tree, officially known as the citrus indica, is an orange hybrid native to South Asia.
It is often considered to be the ancestor of today’s main citrus tree of the common orange, and therefore, it is sometimes known as the primitive orange tree.
The tree is found specifically in Meghalaya, in the Garo Hills, and it has been used by the Garo people mainly for medicinal and spiritual purposes.
The fruit it bears isn’t really eaten like an orange. Instead, it is used to treat stomach conditions, to treat smallpox, and for spiritual reasons concerning the people of the region.
7. Mandarin Orange Tree
The mandarin orange tree, officially known as the citrus reticulata, is mass-cultivated in many parts of the world because the fruit it bears, the mandarin, is one of the most popular types of oranges.
The mandarin tree is actually one of the main types of orange trees, and it has been in use to develop many other hybrids throughout history!
Nowadays, people plants mandarin trees in many hot regions, especially in the Mediterranean, China, and the United States.
Also, mandarin trees are highly valuable and fruitful, as they always bear large amounts of mandarin oranges at a time!
8. New Summer Orange Tree
The New summer orange tree, officially known as the citrus tamurana, is a type of hybrid citrus tree native to Japan.
The creation of it is by accident, during the Edo period, and remains popular to the present day.
You might be able to identify it by its thorny branches! It flowers during the months of May and June and bears its fruits in early summer, which is possibly where the common name comes from.
The fruits, the New summer oranges, have a smooth yellow surface and one can consume it raw or cooked. They are sweet and juicy, and very similar to the normal orange.
9. Satsuma Orange Tree
The Satsuma orange tree, or the citrus unshiu, is sometimes also familiar as the cold hardy mandarin, the satsuma mandarin, or the tangerine.
It is native to Japan or China and is mostly in association with China, where the main production has always been.
In fact, the name Unshiu comes from a famous area of mandarin production, in Unshu (China).
However, the common name, satsuma orange, comes from a province in Japan of the same name! So you could say that both countries have an equal claim.
Nowadays, satsuma orange is a popular fruit that people all around the world consume.
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10. Sweet Orange Tree
The Sweet orange tree, or the citrus sinensis, is what most people refer to as the common orange. It is the main type of orange tree.
It grows in many parts of the world, especially in the Mediterranean, and in Florida. In fact, the flower that blooms from the sweet orange tree is actually the state flower of Florida!
The fruit is exported and consumed all over the world, and is essentially the default type of orange. But that’s not all that’s from the tree that people uses!
The leaves is common to make orange tea, and the wood is for seasoning grilled meat.
11. Tachibana Orange Tree: Citrus Tachibana
The Tachibana orange tree, officially known as the citrus Tachibana, is a type of citrus tree native to Japan.
Nowadays, it is growing in many parts of Asia and is still growing wild within Japan.
The fruit that this tree bears, the Tachibana orange, is often the hardiest of the mandarins. However, it is sadly not as nice or as useful within the kitchen, so it is not very popular.
An interesting fact: these types of oranges were often in the poetry of the early Japanese and Ryukyu Islands kingdoms. So they have a fascinating cultural significance.
12. Temple Orange Tree
The temple orange tree, or the citrus Nobilis, is a hybrid citrus tree. It is a mix between mandarin orange and sweet orange.
There are also actually several varieties of the temple orange tree. Depending on where in the world they are in cultivation, giving you even more options!
As a general rule, the temple oranges this tree produces have deep orange and red skin. Which is glossy and thick. In fact, the peel is often in comparison to leather, due to the texture.
The flesh is sweet and juicy. And often familiar as a type of orange that is great for snacking on throughout the day.
13. Trifoliate Orange Tree: Citrus Trifoliata
The Trifoliate orange tree is official as the citrus trifoliata. Is a type of citrus tree native to northern China and Korea.
It is sometimes familiar as the Japanese bitter orange, as it is extremely popular within that country.
It is a particularly hardy type of orange tree, able to resist lower temperatures. And as its common nickname suggests, it is quite bitter.
Final Thoughts:
If you keep on digging for more types of orange trees you are sure to find a few more. We hope that this list of some of the most popular and famous ones is nothing but the beginning for you!
It truly is fascinating how many types of orange trees there are. So it is no wonder there is so much variety within the fruit, all over the world!
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The majority of people who have no interest in the subject, and aren’t green fingered assume that all plants and vegetables require the same growing conditions. This is not the case at all. Each plant has its own unique and interesting history and growing process.
I hope you will find The Natural List useful, and that it will help educate you on the wide variety of different flower and plant species there are across the globe.
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