Best Bay Area, California Citrus Varieties

Best Bay Area, California Citrus Varieties
- Best Varieties for Colder, Coastal Climate Bay Area Citrus Growers:
- Best Varieties for Warmer, Inland/Valley Bay Area Citrus Growers:

Best Bay Area, California Citrus Varieties

One of the many wonderful things about living in the Bay Area of California is the ability to grow citrus trees in your own garden. When it comes to growing citrus trees, Bay Area growers are lucky in that you have a variety of options, including lemon, lime, kumquat, orange, mandarin, and grapefruit trees. If you are curious about growing citrus or if you are looking for some new varieties to add to your collection, take a look at our list of recommendations.

The "Bay Area" boundaries are different depending on who you as so we will leave that a bit open-ended and pay more attention to the microclimates within. There is the cold, foggy, windy coastal climate and the hot, dry, (windy North Bay) inland/valley climate. One thing you need to remember when selecting citrus is this: if you want sweet, you need heat. This is especially true of sweet oranges and grapefruit.

Why citrus trees? Citrus trees are self-fertile and grow very well in our California climate. They need infrequent deep watering but aren't water hogs, and can do great in a container or in the ground. Some varieties of these stunning evergreen trees can even be grown indoors, so long as you provide enough light. This versatile fruit tree can be kept in almost any home!

Best Varieties for Colder, Coastal Climate Bay Area Citrus Growers:

Meyer Lemon: The California favorite is very juicy, less tart than Eureka, and is abundant with fruit nearly year-round once established.

Improved Meyer Lemon Semi-Dwarf Tree

$65.00

--MEYER LEMON-- Our Best Selling Citrus Tree! The Meyer Lemon tree is a California favorite Grows very well in containers The fruit is very juicy and less tart than Eureka Lemon or Lisbon Lemon. The gourmet Meyer lemon develops golden color at… read more

Eureka Lemon: This vigorous grower is a powerhouse when it comes to production, making it a commercial favorite. This heavy-bearing lemon tree will bear most of its fruit in the winter, andtypically a smaller harvest in the spring. Eureka lemons have the flavor of a classic, sour lemon and are ideal for cooking, baking and making lemonade.

Eureka Lemon Semi-Dwarf Tree

$65.00

--EUREKA-- California's classic commercial lemon is the Eureka Lemon. The Eureka Lemon tree is a vigorous grower, but you can prune the tree to keep it compact. This lemon variety has its heaviest fruit crop from fall into winter, and… read more

Bearss Seedless Lime: The Bearss lime is considered the best lime you can grow on the coast. These flavorful limes are large, juicy, and ever-bearing, meaning they produce flowers and fruit nearly year round. Juice, zest, and slice into all your citrus recipes.

Bearss Seedless (Tahitian/Persian) Semi-Dwarf Lime Tree

$65.00

--BEARSS LIME-- Bearss Limes are also known as Persian Limes or Tahitian Limes. Bears heavy crops of juicy limes with a strong fresh flavor. The heavy fall crop of Bearss Limes stores well on trees when protected from severe frosts.… read more

Makrut /Thai Lime: This unique lime tree is a must-have for any chef, especially if you love Asian cuisine. Leaves, zest, and juice are packed with intense citrus flavor and aromatics. Makrut Lime leaves have a high oil content and the flavor can be infused into rice, soups and savory dishes. Makrut Thai Lime is used especially in many Thai, Cambodian and Indonesian dishes.

Makrut (Kieffer/Kaffir) Thai Semi-Dwarf Lime Tree

$65.00

--MAKRUT LIME-- There has been some controversy surrounding one of the names of the Makrut lime, Kaffir, as it has derogatory connotations in South African and Middle Eastern cultures, which is why we prefer to simply call them Thai limes.… read more

Eustis Limequat: This Mexican Lime and kumquat hybrid produce a delightfully yellow kumquat-shaped fruit with tart lime flavor. A great cold-hardy lime alternative that produces fruit year-round.

Eustis Limequat Semi-Dwarf Tree

$65.00

--EUSTIS-- The Eustis Limequat is a cross between Mexican Key Lime and Kumquat. Eustis Limequat trees are everbearing and highly productive. Prolific bearers of small yellow oblong fruit which can be used like limes. Eustis has a strong, tart lime… read more

Trovita Orange: Trovita is a wonderful piece of fruit for both fresh eating or juicing. The fruit is sweet, juicy, and hangs on the tree well. This heavy producer has a thin rind and few seeds. For the sweetest results, let the tree hang on the tree as long as possible.

Trovita Sweet Orange Semi-Dwarf Tree

$65.00

--TROVITA-- Trovita Sweet Orange trees are the cool weather sweet, juicy orange tree that you've been looking for. Grows very well in many locations from coastal areas to deserts. Trovita oranges are spring ripening. The Trovita Orange has few seeds, thin-skin and… read more

Moro Blood Orange: This spring ripening blood orange produces orange fruit with dark burgundy flesh even in cold coastal climates. The red color comes with a distinctive tart berry flavor.

Moro Blood Orange Semi-Dwarf Tree

$65.00

--MORO-- Moro Blood Oranges are spring-ripening with deep, burgundy flesh even in California coastal areas. The tree is very productive and vigorous with early maturity. Moro is an Italian variety that holds its fruit in clusters, making it an attractive… read more

Calamondin / Calamansi: Calamondin is another great cooking citrus. This sour kumquat hybrid is great for juice/cocktails, soups, and dressings. The rind can be candied into a tasty treat or used to add that wonderful citrus essence to your favorite dish. This gorgeous tree also comes in a variegated variety.

Calamondin/ Calamansi Semi-Dwarf Tree

$65.00

--CALAMONDIN-- The Calamondin citrus fruit, also called Calamansi, is prized in the Philippines. This variety has prolific fruit production. Its small sour orange fruit used as you would use a lime. Calamondin trees have fragrant blooms that enhance this ornamental… read more

Best Varieties for Warmer, Inland/Valley Bay Area Citrus Growers:

Mexican Thornless Lime: This thornless version of the Mexican Key Lime makes for easier harvesting of your favorite lime. This versatile lime can be used for all sorts of recipes including key lime pie, margaritas or freshen up your tacos with a squeeze of lime juice picked right from your yard

Mexican Thornless Semi-Dwarf Lime Tree

$65.00

--MEXICAN-- The Mexican Thornless Lime is a thornless version of the Mexican Key Lime is medium sized and bushy the leaves are distinctively aromatic when crushed. blossoms pure white fragrant.> This tart and flavorful lime is preferred for Key Lime pie… read more

Valencia Orange: The King of Juice Oranges! This summer ripening orange produces loads of sweet fruit with just a pinch of tartness for balance. This tasty orange can be grown all over the Bay Area but be sure you can provide lots of sun, heat, and time to let the fruit hang as long as possible for the sweetest fruit.

Valencia Sweet Orange Semi-Dwarf Tree

$65.00

--VALENCIA-- The Valencia Sweet Orange is the King of the Juice Oranges! Summer-ripening fruit. Its large fruit is sweet but slightly more acidic than the Washington Navel. Fruit stores well on the tree into the fall months- fifteen months… read more

Owari Satsuma Mandarin: This hardy mandarin ripens early winter and produces seedless, easy-to-peel fruit that is jam-packed with flavor. Slow growing at first but certainly worth the wait. These tasty treats have a short season so pair with a Clementine to extend your mandarin season.

Owari Satsuma Mandarin Semi-Dwarf Tree

$65.00

--OWARI SATSUMA-- Our Best Selling Mandarin Tree! Early Season Ripening Satsuma fruit ripens in early winter, is seedless, and easy to peel. The flesh is bright orange, tender, juicy and sweet in flavor Hardiest of all mandarins. Productive, early producer. … read more

Clementine Mandarin: Clementine pairs extremely well with Owari Satsuma if you want to extend your mandarin fruiting season as their fruit ripens just after the end of Owari season and through the summer. Clementine mandarins are full of juice and have a very bright flavor.

Clementine Algerian Mandarin Semi-Dwarf Tree

$65.00

--CLEMENTINE-- Now available! 36"-48" Premium Clementine / Algerian Semi-Dwarf Mandarin Trees Early Season Ripening Also known as Algerian Mandarin. The flavor is nearly indistinguishable from De Nules Nour clementines. Widely grown in Spain & California. Tolerates heat well, some seeds.… read more

Kumquats: There are so many great varieties of kumquat that I want to include them all! These bursts of flavor need heat to set flowers so be sure your Bay Area microclimate can support it. Fukushu tends to bear slightly better crops in the colder parts of the bay. These also make a very unique indoor plant and will even fruit if you keep them in a sunny south-facing window. Make your next indoor plant a citrus tree!

Fukushu Kumquat Semi-Dwarf Tree

$65.00

--FUKUSHU-- The Fukushu is a very hardy, small tree with fragrant flowers that bloom throughout the growing season. Highly ornamental with lovely round leaves and an upright growth habit. Fukushu Kumquat trees are naturally thornless. Large sized fruit with sweet,… read more

For all of our growers in the Bay Area, your goal for growing the best citrus is to emulate the following growing conditions as closely as possible. Citrus trees love full(8+ hours) sun, well-draining soil, infrequent deep watering, and regular monthly feeding during the growing/fruiting season. Our growers in extremely windy areas will want to protect their trees with a physical barrier for best results.

Check out our Citrus Growing Tips for more information.

Protect your fruit trees from the hot summer sun and winter cold with Plant Guard tree paint and foliar spray.

Get in the know about HLB(Huanglongbing / Citrus Greening Disease) and help save your community's citrus. Only source citrus trees from reputable growers.

Best Bay Area, California Citrus Varieties

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