Red Navel Orange Tree Live Plant – Cara Cara Citrus – 1 Gallon Pot

Overview

Bring the joy of fresh, homegrown citrus to your garden with this beautiful red navel orange tree. This vibrant live plant, often recognized as a Cara Cara orange plant, offers delicious, sweet, and low-acid fruit with a distinctive pinkish-red flesh, making it a favorite among citrus enthusiasts. Our premium live sweet orange tree arrives ready for planting, allowing you to enjoy the journey from a young plant to a fruit-bearing specimen. Ideal for USDA Zones 9-11, this tree can be a striking addition to your landscape or a productive potted plant in cooler climates. Its lush green foliage provides year-round beauty, while its fragrant blossoms in late winter to early spring hint at the abundant harvest to come. Growing your own citrus means having access to fresh, vitamin C-rich fruit right from your backyard or patio.

The distinctive characteristics of the Cara Cara orange, such as its complex flavor profile combining notes of cherry, rose, and blackberry, set it apart from traditional navel oranges. This particular citrus plant care is relatively straightforward, making it an excellent choice for both experienced gardeners and those new to growing fruit trees. With proper attention to light, water, and soil, your red navel orange tree will flourish, providing not only an attractive focal point but also a source of delightful fruit for years to come. Imagine picking your own sweet, seedless oranges, perfect for snacking, juicing, or adding a zesty touch to culinary creations.

Key Benefits

Investing in a red navel orange tree offers numerous advantages, from aesthetic appeal to the satisfaction of fresh produce. This live sweet orange tree is a rewarding addition to any garden or patio.

• Delicious & Nutritious Fruit: Enjoy the unique, sweet, and slightly tangy flavor of Cara Cara oranges, known for their beautiful pink-red flesh and high vitamin C content, plucked fresh from your own red navel orange tree.
• Fragrant Blooms: Experience the delightful aroma of citrus blossoms in late winter to early spring, adding a sensory pleasure to your outdoor space and attracting beneficial pollinators.
• Year-Round Beauty: With its glossy, evergreen foliage, this cara cara orange plant provides continuous visual interest throughout all seasons, enhancing the aesthetic of your garden or home.
• Versatile Growing Options: Suitable for planting directly in the ground in warmer climates (USDA Zones 9-11) or for growing in a container on a patio or indoors, offering flexibility for various growing environments.
• Homegrown Freshness: Gain the satisfaction of harvesting your own fruit, ensuring peak freshness and quality, free from pesticides often found on store-bought produce.
• Enhances Outdoor Living: A well-placed live sweet orange tree can transform a patio or backyard into a more inviting and productive living space, perfect for relaxation and entertaining.
• Engaging Gardening Project: Caring for a fruit tree provides a fulfilling gardening experience, allowing you to learn about plant growth and enjoy the fruits (literally!) of your labor.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Proper citrus plant care is essential for a thriving red navel orange tree. These plants require consistent attention to watering, sunlight, and soil conditions to produce abundant and flavorful fruit. Your live sweet orange tree will flourish with the right environment.

For optimal growth, plant your red navel orange tree in a location that receives full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. If growing indoors, place it near a south-facing window or supplement with a grow light. The ideal temperature range for this Cara Cara orange plant is between 55°F and 85°F. Protect it from frost, especially when young. Well-draining soil is crucial; a good quality potting mix specifically formulated for citrus or a sandy loam soil in the ground will work best. Ensure the pot has drainage holes if container gardening. Water deeply and regularly, allowing the top inch or two of soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot, but also do not let the plant become completely dry for extended periods.

Fertilize your red navel orange tree with a balanced citrus fertilizer during the growing season (spring through fall), following the product’s instructions. A slow-release granular fertilizer or a liquid feed can be effective. Pruning should be done to maintain shape, remove dead or crossing branches, and encourage fruit production. The best time for light pruning is after the last fruit harvest. Watch out for common pests like aphids, scale, and spider mites, and treat them promptly with organic pest control methods if necessary. Providing consistent orange tree growing tips and care will ensure your plant remains healthy and productive.

Size & Details

This red navel orange tree is a live sweet orange tree, standing approximately 1 foot tall from the base of the pot to the top of the plant. It is shipped in a 1-gallon nursery pot, providing a well-established root system ready for transplanting. While the exact dimensions may vary slightly due to the natural growth of live plants, the general size ensures it’s manageable for shipping and easy to handle upon arrival. The tree’s mature height can reach 10-15 feet when planted in the ground, but it can be maintained at a smaller, more compact size through regular pruning, especially when grown in a container. Expect fruit production to begin within 2-3 years under optimal growing conditions, with blooming typically occurring in late winter to early spring.

The Cara Cara orange plant is known for its moderate growth rate. When grown in a container, the size of the pot will influence the ultimate size of the tree; a larger pot will allow for more extensive root development and a bigger plant. This 1-gallon size is perfect for starting your citrus journey. The tree’s vibrant green leaves and sturdy trunk are indicative of a healthy, vigorous specimen. The overall dimensions of the package upon shipment are approximately 8 x 8 x 30 inches, ensuring the plant is protected during transit. This citrus plant care guide mentions that the plant thrives in USDA Zones 9-11, but can be grown as a patio plant or indoors in colder regions.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: This red navel orange tree is approximately 1 foot tall when shipped in a 1-gallon pot. When planted in the ground, it can reach 10-15 feet, but can be kept smaller with pruning, especially in containers.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: The live sweet orange tree comes in a standard 1-gallon nursery pot, providing a healthy root system for easy transplanting to a larger container or directly into the ground.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: This cara cara orange plant thrives outdoors in USDA Zones 9-11. In colder climates, it can be grown as a patio plant and brought indoors during winter, or cultivated permanently indoors with adequate light.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This citrus plant requires full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily, to produce the best fruit.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, with consistent attention to sunlight, watering, and proper fertilization, this red navel orange tree is relatively easy to care for, making it suitable for many gardeners. Follow our orange tree growing tips for best results.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your plant will arrive healthy and well-packaged, ready for planting. We take great care to ensure the plant is protected during transit.
• Q: Is it shipped in soil? A: Yes, the live sweet orange tree is shipped in its nursery pot with soil, ensuring its roots remain undisturbed and hydrated during delivery.
• Q: How long until it blooms? A: This citrus plant care guide notes that blooming typically occurs in late winter to early spring, and fruit production can begin within 2-3 years.
• Q: When is the best time to plant? A: The best time to plant is in spring or fall when temperatures are moderate. If growing indoors, it can be planted any time of year.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: This red navel orange tree thrives in USDA Zones 9-11. In zones below 9, it must be protected from frost or brought indoors during cold weather.