Rare and Exotic Citrus Trees You Can Grow

Rare and Exotic Citrus Trees You Can Grow

 Here in California and around the US, the most common citrus trees to find in garden centers are classic lemon, lime and orange varieties. Thanks to social media and YouTube, the demand for exotic citrus is increasing, but sourcing a healthy exotic citrus tree from a reputable nursery can prove to be complicated, because they are hard to find. Further complications come along because there are shipping restrictions of citrus trees between certain states. For example, we are located in California and are legally forbidden to ship our citrus trees to other citrus producing states such as Alabama, Texas, Florida and Arizona. This is to control the movement of pests and citrus diseases around the country.

When it comes to exotic citrus, the varieties that we grow make up quite a significant portion of our collection. We love to grow not only the classic varieties like Meyer Lemon and Valencia Orange, but we are fascinated by unique and exotic citrus from all over the world. Here are some of our favorite exotic citrus varieties that we grow here at the nursery.

 Australian Finger Lime

While rare and exotic here in the US, Australian Finger limes grow wild in the subtropical coastal region of Australia. Finger limes produce pinky-shaped fruits that are packed with lime juice vesicles that offer a unique limey caviar experience when eaten or used to freshen up your favorite recipes. This exotic variety has uniquely small dime-sized leaves that make for a beautiful ornamental tree or shrub as well.

Australian Finger Lime Semi-Dwarf Tree

$65.00

--AUSTRALIAN FINGER LIME-- The Australian Finger Lime is also known as "Citrus Caviar". The Australian Finger Lime tree is a relative of citrus and produces finger-like fruit with tart, round, juicy lime vesicles.  The outer skin's color can vary from… read more

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 Buddha's Hand Citron

The wild waving fingers of the buddha's hand have inspired people for generations. This unique cultivar is said to bring good fortune into the home. This likely originated from the practice of using these exquisitely aromatic fruits to freshen up your home. These zesty fruits can be deliciously candied in deserts or used to flavor your favorite beverages.

Buddha's Hand Citron Semi-Dwarf Tree

$65.00

--BUDDAH'S HAND-- Buddha's Hand got its name because its fruit forms finger-like sections resembling a human hand. Buddha's Hand Citron is much esteemed for its delicate lemon fragrance in China and Japan. The fruit has virtually no pulp, but can… read more

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 Variegated Pink Eureka Lemon 

Beginning as a sport of Eureka lemon, this spectacularly variegated specimen is sure to impress. Disguised within the multicolored leaves, you'll find equally variegated lemons with a subtle green striped rind that wraps around an almost salmon pink flesh. This unique varietal is also famed for its intense aromatic quality that starts with the blossoms and extends into the fruit as it ripens.

Variegated Pink Lemon Semi-Dwarf Tree

$65.00

--PINK LEMON-- Variegated Pink Lemon originated as a sport of a Eureka Lemon tree, the variegation is a natural mutation. Tree makes an excellent landscape tree and is prized for its interesting variegated foliage. This lemon tree has distinctive green… read more

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 Bouquet de Fleurs Sour Orange

Imagine walking through a citrus grove at peak bloom with the sweet aroma surrounding you. This is the sensation brought by the entrancing fragrance of this unique variety. Not only is this variety's floral aroma intoxicating but the charming ruffled leaves make for a very pleasant ornamental hedge or bush.

Bouquet de Fleurs Sour Orange Semi-Dwarf Tree

$65.00

--BOUQUET DE FLEURS-- Bouquet de Fleurs Sour Orange is a desirable ornamental, valued for its massive clusters of intensely fragrant blossoms, attractive dark orange fruit and shiny foliage. This orange tree can be used as a shrub or hedge, or… read more

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 Etrog/Assads Citron

This fragrant lemon-like fruit has been cultivated in the middle east for over two thousand years and plays a crucial role in the Jewish autumn harvest festival, Sukkot. In order for fruit specimens to be valid for the Jewish ritual, the parent tree, along with all other trees in its lineage must have been grown on its own roots and never been grafted. This practice has made it exceedingly difficult to secure a valid tree since almost all citrus trees whether for commercial use or home growers are grafted onto disease-resistant rootstock. We at Four Winds Growers provide two options here: 

Etrog Citron: This was originally sourced, cleaned & grafted by the CCPP. These clean source trees are grafted onto semi-dwarf rootstock.

Etrog/ Ethrog Citron Semi-Dwarf Tree

$65.00

--ETROG-- Etrog Citron is also known as Assads or Moroccan citron. This fragrant lemon-like fruit with thick peel is used for the Jewish autumn harvest festival and Feast of the Tabernacles, Sukkot. Self-fertile Best for Zones 9-10 For Zones 4-8, you can grow… read more

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Assads Citron: Assads is another Etrog Citron varietal but this one is propagated as cuttings off a tree grown from seed provided by the USDA that was sourced from 7-year-old Etrog Trees in Morocco.

Assads Citron Bush

$28.00

--ASSADS CITRON-- Also known as Etrog/Ethrog or Moroccan citron, Assads Citron is a thick-peeled, fragrant lemon-like fruit is used for the Jewish autumn harvest festival and Feast of the Tabernacles, Sukkot. The "mother tree" of Assads Citron was started from seed… read more

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 Makrut Thai Lime

Makrut Limes are a must-have for Thai cuisine. The fruit is prized for the bright citrus flavor and floral notes of the rind and the leaves. The juice is sour and bitter making it suboptimal for eating. This specialty fruit goes by many names including Thai Lime or Makrut Lime. It is also refered to as Kaffir Lime, but this moniker should not be used as it is considered to be offensive and derogatory.

Makrut (Kieffer/Kaffir) Thai Lime Semi-Dwarf 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

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 Variegated Calamondin

Also known as the Calamondin Lime, this exotic lemon-lime replacement grows on a beautiful tree full of green and yellow marbled leaves, making it a beautiful plant in any landscape. The fruit is equally impressive in color as it transitions to ripeness.

Variegated Calamondin/ Calamansi Semi-Dwarf Tree

$65.00

--VARIEGATED CALAMONDIN-- Fragrant bloom of the Variegated Calamondin tree is followed by tart, petite, orange fruit, just like its Calamondin cousin. The tree has a handsome compact habit. Outstanding in containers. Immature fruit is strikingly green and yellow striped. Variegated… read more

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 Bergamot Orange

This sour orange cultivar ripens into a rich yellow fruit that shines as the light reflects off the oily peel. The pale-yellow flesh is reminiscent of lemon, but the flavor is more tart, and lime-like. Bergamot captivates with its aromatic rind which once pressed leaves you with an essential oil rich in floral flavor and bright citrus tones. This oil is used to enhance perfumes, colognes and as a culinary flavoring for all your favorite citrus-infused recipes. Bergamot may be most known for its place in Earl Gray tea where it adds freshness and citrus undertones.

Bergamot Orange Semi-Dwarf Tree

$85.00

--BERGAMOT--  Bergamot is thought to be a hybrid of the sour orange and citron or lemon. The tree is small to medium at maturity, thornless, with a somewhat spreading habit. The fruit is medium in size and variable in shape,… read more

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 Yuzu Citron

Yuzu Citrus fruit is rarely eaten, rather it is chosen for its fragrant oily rind and aromatic zest that is tart like a grapefruit, with undertones of mandarin. This wonder-fruit dates back over a thousand years having many purposes from culinary to medicinal and even in hot bathing. Both the rind and juice can be used to in 

Yuzu Semi-Dwarf Tree

$75.00

--YUZU--   Also known as Japanese Citron, Yuja Fruit, Hana Yuzu, or Yuzu Citron. Yuzu trees are among the cold-hardiest of all citrus. Yuzu Citrus fruit is rarely eaten, rather it is chosen for its fragrant oily rind, aromatic zest, and flavorful… read more

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 Sudachi Lime

Sour is an understatement when describing Sudachi lime. The juice from this unique fruit is sharp, acidic & tart but also has a rich peppery taste to it. With a delightful flavor like this, culinary enthusiasts around the world have been using this as an exotic lime replacement. This chance seedling is thought to be a hybrid cross a papeda and mandarin citrus.

Sudachi Lime/Sour Mandarin Semi-Dwarf Tree

$70.00

--SUDACHI--  The punch of flavor that bursts out of a Sudachi fruit is acidic, and tart with a unique savory finish that is almost peppery. Sudachi Limes are a Japanese favorite similar to Yuzu. Sour, aromatic juice of Sudachi limes is… read more

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 Chinotto Sour Orange

Also known as the Myrtle-Leaf orange for its beautiful small leaves. The foliage alone is why people seek this decorative ornamental shrub. The blossoms fill the air with a lovely fresh citrus scent that is both floral and sweet. Chinotto sour oranges themselves are scarcely eaten as they have a very sour & bitter flavor.

Chinotto Sour Orange Semi-Dwarf Tree

$65.00

--CHINOTTO--  Chinotto makes a small but highly decorative ornamental shrub. It is slow-growing, with petite closely spaced leaves. Extremely fragrant blossoms It is great for bonsai or container growing. The small Chinotto sour orange fruit grows in clusters. Self-fertile Best… read more

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 Variegated Centennial Kumquat

Take the fine texture, crunch, and sweetness of a Nagami Kumquat and add the striking variegations to it. You end up with a positively unique blend of familiar flavor in beauty with the large leaves that transition from pale yellow to cream, then accented by a multitude of green stripes.

Centennial Variegated Kumquat Semi-Dwarf Tree

$65.00

--CENTENNIAL VARIEGATED-- The Centennial Variegated Kumquat is a variegated version of a Nagami Kumquat with an attractive upright growth habit. Variegated green and cream leaves are complemented by yellow and green striped fruit which become quite large and turn orange… read more

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 Palestine Sweet Lime

Also known as Indian Sweet Lime, this is a delicious piece of exotic citrus with a tender juicy flesh that is mellow in flavor due to its lack of acidity, but has a very pleasant sweet finish.

Palestine Lime Sweet Semi-Dwarf Tree

$65.00

--PALESTINE--  Palestine Sweet Limes are round, yellow, medium-sized and juicy The Palestine Sweet Lime as more sugar and very little acid compared to Bearss Lime. With its mild flavor and few seeds, the Palestine Sweet Lime makes a refreshing beverage.… read more

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Exotic Citrus Trees- Countries of Origin

Check out our Exotic Citrus Growing Tips for more information!

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