Fragrant Mandarin Tree (Mandarina Olorosa)

About the Fragrant Mandarin Tree (Mandarina Olorosa)

Mandarina Olorosa is the old-fashioned Mexican mandarin whose scent fills the room the moment you peel it. The loose, bright orange skin slips off easily, and the segments are juicy and sweet with a lively tang and that unmistakable mandarin perfume; expect some seeds, as with most traditional types. It is the mandarin of childhood memories, of school lunches and December markets. The tree is sturdy and productive, with glossy leaves and fragrant blossom, and it adapts to tropical lowlands as well as cooler highland gardens.

How to Care for It

Plant in full sun in deep, well-drained soil; citrus hates waterlogged roots, so raise the bed on heavy clay. Water deeply once or twice a week in the dry season and let the topsoil dry between waterings. Feed with a citrus fertiliser with micronutrients (zinc, iron, magnesium) three times a year, mulch without touching the trunk, and remove shoots that sprout below the main branches.

Fresh limes for every taco and juice from your own tree. Persian, Colima and criollo limes, Valencia and navel oranges, five mandarins, grapefruit, pomelo and Yucatán's own lima de chiche, grown on our farms and shipped by DHL to most of Mexico.

Growing Profile

Botanical name

Citrus reticulata

Family

Rutaceae

Native to

Southern China and Southeast Asia; a traditional mandarin type in Mexican gardens

Mature height

3–5 m

Plant spacing

4 m

Years to first fruit

3–4 years

Light

Full sun

Water

Moderate

Cold tolerance

down to -3 °C

Best climates

Humid tropics, Dry tropics, Subtropical, Mild highlands

Grows in a pot

Yes

Ships from

Our farms in Yucatán & Chiapas