Washington Navel Orange Tree

About the Washington Navel Orange Tree

The Washington navel is the eating orange: large, seedless and easy to peel, with firm, sweet, richly flavoured segments and the little 'navel' at the blossom end that gives it its name. It ripens early, from late autumn into winter, just in time for the holidays. Navels develop their best colour and sweetness where nights turn cool, so this tree shines in the Bajío, the central highlands, Sonora and the north, as well as drier inland valleys. It is a smaller, rounder tree than Valencia, which makes it a good choice for home 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 × sinensis 'Washington'

Family

Rutaceae

Native to

Bahia, Brazil; introduced to California in the 1870s and spread worldwide from there

Mature height

3–5 m

Plant spacing

5 m

Years to first fruit

3–4 years

Light

Full sun

Water

Moderate

Cold tolerance

down to -3 °C

Best climates

Dry tropics, Subtropical, Mild highlands, Arid / desert

Grows in a pot

Yes

Ships from

Our farms in Yucatán & Chiapas