17 Citrus Trees Perfect for Growing in Indoor Containers

Rising your individual citrus timber might look like a pipe dream if you happen to don’t dwell someplace tropical. Earlier than you surrender on that concept fully, attempt rising citrus indoors. Even when there’s snow on the bottom, you possibly can develop a citrus tree inside, and it’ll produce scrumptious fruits if you take care of it correctly.

Indoor citrus vegetation are a lot smaller than their outside counterparts as a result of container capping their measurement. If a tree can attain 30 ft outdoor, depend on it not reaching half its potential inside. However, simply because its measurement received’t be as huge doesn’t imply the fruit will probably be small; you possibly can anticipate common fruit on smaller timber.

You’ll want the sunniest room attainable for indoor timber, and you could must complement the sunshine with develop lights. Let your plant keep outdoors throughout the summer time so it will possibly absorb as many rays as attainable, after which deliver it inside as soon as the temperatures begin to settle down. I’ll present you 17 totally different citrus vegetation you possibly can develop indoors so you can begin making your dream of a citrus orchard come true.

Buddha’s Hand

	botanical title Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis
	solar necessities Full solar
	peak 8-15 ft
	hardiness zones 10-11

Additionally referred to as a fingered citron, the Buddha’s hand is a novel fruit that can certainly be a dialog starter in your front room. This fingered fruit might look otherworldly or like a bunch of bananas to you. Except for seems to be, this fruit is exclusive as a result of it’s all pith. Reducing open a finger of this fruit received’t reveal the gel-like bulbs of bitter juice you’d see in lemons in limes, however as an alternative, you’ll see pith during.

What are you presupposed to do with a pithy fruit? There’s loads you are able to do with it as a result of it isn’t bitter like a lemon. You need to use the zest on meals and drinks, flip it into jelly, or eat it uncooked in salads. It could be uncommon, however that’s all of the extra motive to develop it!

Buddha’s hand is believed to be one of many first citrus species. It’s native to northeastern India however was launched to China within the 4th century by Buddhist monks. It has aromatic flowers, and the fruits themselves are additionally aromatic after they’re prepared for harvest at 4-8 inches lengthy. Give the plant as a lot solar as attainable and solely water it when the soil is totally dry. Fruit sometimes seems after three years, however you would possibly get fortunate and solely have to attend one.

Clementine

	botanical title Citrus x clementina
	solar necessities Full solar
	peak 8-12 ft
	hardiness zones 8-11

Clementines are these little oranges grocery shops promote by the bag, usually branded with a reputation that displays simply how lovely they’re. Clementines aren’t oranges, although; they’re mandarins. Mandarins and tangerines are the identical factor, although “mandarin” refers to Asian varieties, and “tangerine” refers to African varieties. The clementine is an Asian selection however is now most related to California and Spain.

These little fruits make the right indoor citrus as a result of they’re already small timber. They’ve a compact progress behavior that lends itself to rising in smaller areas. It’s self-fertile, so that you don’t want to fret about having multiple tree to get fruit. When stored in containers, the plant will probably be a lot smaller, however the fruit will keep the identical measurement as if it had been grown outdoor. Clementines are usually candy and have only a few seeds in them.

Finger Lime

	botanical title Citrus australasica
	solar necessities Full solar
	peak As much as 20 ft
	hardiness zones 8-11

If tuna is the “rooster of the ocean,” then finger limes are the “caviar of the backyard.” Minimize open a finger lime, and you’ll see little caviar-like pulp beads come out of the fruit. These are identical to what you discover in lemons and limes, however they arrive within the type of particular person spheres relatively than clusters of tear-shaped beads.

Finger lime timber have a most peak of 20 ft, making them on the shorter aspect of citrus. After all, when grown in a container, they are going to be a lot smaller.

They’ve a shrubby progress behavior, making them a good selection for indoor rising, however be careful for the thorny branches. The 4-inch fruit will stay the identical measurement, so that you don’t want to fret about shedding amount or high quality if you happen to develop it inside.

Grapefruit

	botanical title Citrus x paradisi
	solar necessities Full solar
	peak 10-30 ft
	hardiness zones Sept. 11

Grapefruits are one of the crucial current citrus discoveries. Grapefruit was discovered within the nineteenth century, rising in Jamaica and Barbados. Citrus specialists decided it was a hybrid of oranges and pomelos. These vegetation are delicate to salty situations and have sharp thorns. Nonetheless, they don’t must be pruned other than eradicating broken branches and conserving their form.

Grapefruits are fairly tart, however permitting them to ripen on the tree will make them sweeter. Nonetheless, doing so would possibly cut back what number of fruits the tree makes subsequent yr.

Grapefruits develop as much as 6 inches in diameter, have pink insides, and might be yellow, gold, or inexperienced on the surface. This plant can hurt cats and canine if ingested, so be careful in your furry mates if you wish to develop this one in your house.

Kaffir Lime

	botanical title Citrus hystrix
	solar necessities Full solar
	peak 6-25 ft
	hardiness zones 10-12

The Kaffir lime can be referred to as a makrut lime or Thai lime. It’s native to southeast Asia however has grow to be so widespread in tropical areas that its unique native space is unsure. The fruit, flowers, rinds, and leaves can be utilized in soups, stir-fries, salads, marinades, and far more.

In case you haven’t had certainly one of these limes earlier than, verify your native Asian market. They don’t produce a lot juice, so the rind and leaves are mostly utilized in cooking.

This tree works properly as an indoor plant since it will possibly develop as small as 6 ft tall. Nonetheless, it does have thorns and is vulnerable to mealybugs, aphids, and spider mites, all of which have a tendency to like different houseplants. The leaves are shiny and evergreen, and the fruits are inexperienced and bumpy. It’s a novel fruit that will probably be attractive on the patio or in your house.

Key Lime

	botanical title Citrus x aurantiifolia
	solar necessities Full solar
	peak 6-13 ft
	hardiness zones Sept. 11

When you have a candy tooth, you could wish to develop key limes at residence to make scrumptious pies. In case you’re used to seeing photos of small inexperienced limes on pie packing containers, you could be shocked to search out out that key limes might be yellow after they’re ripe, relying on the cultivar. They bought their title from being largely produced within the Florida Keyes within the nineteenth century, although that’s not the case at this time.

Key lime timber are small and shrubby, reaching solely 13 ft when not confined by a container. So, if you happen to want a compact tree to slot in restricted area, this one will work properly for you. The fruits measure not more than 3 inches in diameter and are sometimes virtually completely spherical. These timber are mildly poisonous to pets, so hold them out of attain.

Kumquat

	botanical title Citrus japonica
	solar necessities Full solar
	peak 7-10 ft
	hardiness zones Sept. 11

Kumquats develop properly indoors since they’re so quick. Be sure you give them as massive of a container as attainable in order for you them to succeed in their full measurement, which is 10 ft tall and eight ft extensive. Like different citrus timber, they want full solar publicity and can do properly on a patio throughout the summer time months. Give them well-draining soil and watch them bloom with aromatic white flowers in Could and June.

The fruits are orange, rectangular, and simply a few inches in size. The rind and insides are edible and might be eaten uncooked or ready as preserves or jellies and utilized in deserts or salads. New progress on the tree is usually thorny, so watch out when dealing with the plant. Some varieties, just like the ‘Centennial Variegated,’ are largely thornless.

Lemon

	botanical title Citrus limon
	solar necessities Full solar
	peak 10-20 ft
	hardiness zones Sept. 11

Nothing’s extra iconic than the Citrus limon, in any other case often called the plain ol’ lemon. It’s recognized for its pucker-worthy tart juice and irresistible perfume. The lemon is used to taste candy and savory dishes and to scent cleaning soap, cleansing provides, and candles. (You would possibly wish to take a look at the Squeeze of the Day Candle!)

The lemon tree reaches as much as 20 ft tall when rising freely outdoor however will probably be smaller indoors. The tree has crimson leaves that flip darkish inexperienced as they mature and bloom with small white flowers. The plant is very aromatic and can certainly make your area odor divine. For the perfect outcomes, hold the plant outdoor in the summertime and convey it indoors for winter.

Mandarin Orange

	botanical title Citrus reticulata
	solar necessities Full solar
	peak 15-25 ft
	hardiness zones Sept. 11

Mandarin timber are excellent for tropical and temperate climates, however you possibly can develop this one in cooler areas if you happen to deliver it indoors within the winter. It likes sandy soils and might tolerate some shade, however as with different citrus timber, it’s going to do greatest when uncovered to as a lot solar as attainable.

It’s vulnerable to many widespread houseplant pests, together with whiteflies, mites, aphids, and mealybugs. In case you usually have these pest issues, contemplate conserving it away out of your different vegetation.

Mandarin fruits are not more than 3 inches in diameter, begin out as brilliant inexperienced, and switch to a shocking orange shade. The plant has evergreen leaves with thorny branches and a shrubby, compact progress behavior, making it best for container planting. The plant is illiberal of temperatures beneath 40°F (4°C), so be sure you shield it from chilly temperatures. 

Myrtle Leaf Orange

	botanical title Citrus myrtifolia
	solar necessities Full solar
	peak As much as 10 ft
	hardiness zones 8-10

This plant will get its title as a result of the leaves resemble these of the widespread myrtle tree. This tree is right for indoor rising as a result of it’s a thornless selection that solely reaches 10 ft tall. The fruit is often simply a few inches in diameter.

The myrtle leaf orange is primarily grown for ornamental functions because the fruits are so bitter. It’s possible you’ll not wish to embrace orange slices in your salads or snack plates, however you should use them to taste drinks or dressings or use them to create desserts or jams.

In case you love the look of orange timber, this tree is a good selection for decorative rising because it grows a lot fruit that may be left on the tree for some time.

Persian Lime

	botanical title Citrus x latifolia
	solar necessities Full solar
	peak 8-20 ft
	hardiness zones Sept. 11

The Persian lime is what you could consult with as a “common” lime you’ll discover in grocery shops. It’s a inexperienced fruit starting from gentle to medium inexperienced, however when left on the tree, it turns yellow and turns into sweeter proper earlier than it drops off the plant. They’re rounded fruits which might be barely rectangular and are a couple of inches in size and diameter.

When grown outdoor within the best hardiness zones, the evergreen tree will produce flowers and fruit all yr lengthy. This can be harder to perform since you must deliver it indoors, however if you happen to can hold the temperature heat sufficient in your house or greenhouse and produce sufficient gentle for the plant, you might be able to get pleasure from limes come rain, sleet, or snow.

Pink Variegated Eureka Lemon

	botanical title Citrus limon ‘Variegated Pink Eureka’
	solar necessities Full solar to partial shade
	peak 6-15 ft
	hardiness zones 9-10

Additionally referred to as the pink lemonade tree, this distinctive Citrus limon selection will certainly grow to be certainly one of your most prized vegetation. This cultivar was a pure mutation of a daily Citrus limon lemon tree that occurred in California. The plant was propagated through budwood and have become a brand new cultivar that you just’ll wish to add to your assortment.

The skin of the lemon has inexperienced and yellow stripes, making you marvel if you happen to’re a lemon or a lime. The fruit’s flesh doesn’t clear it up—it’s pink on the within! These pink lemons received’t provide you with pink lemonade and don’t style any totally different out of your common lemon, so you should use it simply as you’d with regular yellow lemons. However you could wish to select this plant over a daily lemon tree purely for its decorative worth.

The tree is comparatively small and can develop properly in a container. Like different lemons, it must be protected against chilly temperatures and supplied with well-draining soil and as a lot daylight as attainable.

Ponderosa Lemon

	botanical title Citrus x pyriformis
	solar necessities Full solar
	peak 4-6 ft
	hardiness zones Sept. 11

The ponderosa lemon is a cross between a lemon and a citron. It’s a big fruit that’s often spherical, although it will possibly generally have an elongated neck, making it the form of an avocado. It has a bumpy golden rind, and the fruit can attain the dimensions of grapefruits.

Although the plant can develop fairly tall, it’s going to keep small in a container, making it houseplant. This tree isn’t made for chilly temperatures; one frost might be sufficient to kill it, so if you happen to depart this outdoors in the summertime and fall, be sure you deliver it indoors earlier than the temperatures get too chilly.

Satsuma Mandarin

	botanical title Citrus unshiu
	solar necessities Full solar
	peak 10-15 ft
	hardiness zones 8-10

The ‘Satsuma’ mandarin is known as after the situation in Japan the place it was first recorded, although it might be native to China. This mandarin, which is usually referred to as a tangerine, is common all through many components of the world and is grown in lots of southern states within the US. The ‘Owari’ cultivar is the most well-liked within the US and are cherished for canning and snacking.

This tree grows slowly, so some persistence will probably be required in order for you success with it. Nonetheless, you’ll get to get pleasure from lovely medium-sized fruits in late fall after they’re prepared to reap. Satsuma mandarins are brilliant orange after they’re prepared and might trigger the plant to droop if the tree was notably productive, which it usually is.

Candy Orange

	botanical title Citrus x sinensis
	solar necessities Full solar
	peak 8-30 ft
	hardiness zones Sept. 11

The candy orange, additionally referred to as the navel orange, is a hybrid of a pomelo and mandarin. That is most likely the orange you image if you consider oranges: massive, spherical, and brilliant orange.

This tree is slightly finicky; it hates to be repotted. If it is advisable repot it, be tremendous cautious to not disturb the roots, otherwise you’ll have an sad tree. Strive to decide on a big container up entrance that can permit loads of room for progress for a few years to come back so you possibly can cut back plant stress as a lot as attainable.

When pruning the candy orange tree, keep away from reducing new wooden. Flowers develop on new wooden, so eradicating it means shedding your crop. The soil must be stored moist for the perfect outcomes, although it’s tolerant of drought as soon as it’s established. Hold it outdoor for so long as attainable, ensuring to maintain it protected against cool temperatures.

Tangelo

	botanical title Citrus x tangelo
	solar necessities Full solar to partial shade
	peak 8-12 ft
	hardiness zones 8-11

Tangelos are a cross between tangerines (mandarins) and grapefruits. The fruit is a well-balanced mixture of candy and tart and has an easy-to-peel rind, making it the right snack.

The fruit is brilliant orange and rounded with slightly neck on the stem, very similar to a bell or pear. The brilliant fruits distinction properly with the darkish, shiny inexperienced leaves, making this plant a beautiful one to develop inside.

Tangelos are usually pest-free, although you must nonetheless be careful for widespread pest issues that have an effect on quite a lot of indoor and outside vegetation you’ll have close by. Hold the tree out of cool temperatures and supply it with as a lot daylight as attainable; nevertheless, it will possibly tolerate partial shade however don’t anticipate it to be at its peak.

Yuzu

	botanical title Citrus x junos
	solar necessities Full solar
	peak 6-25 ft
	hardiness zones 8-11

You would possibly wrestle to discover a yuzu plant, which can be referred to as a Japanese citron, however when you do, you received’t remorse it. This tree is gorgeous to take a look at and grows medium-sized yellowish-orange fruits which might be spherical with bumpy pores and skin. The juice is sort of tart, so it’s an acquired style that could be an excessive amount of for some. 

Yuzu timber are perfect for cooler climates as a result of they’re essentially the most frost-tolerant citrus plant, allegedly surviving right down to 10°F (-12°C). Regardless of this, you must nonetheless hold it away from cool temperatures and supply it loads of daylight so it can provide you its brightest colours.