Wholesale citrus

Cara Cara navel orange

Citrus sinensis ‘Cara Cara’

A seedless pink-fleshed navel with sweet flavor; Arizona heat may soften the depth of its interior pigmentation.

EdiblePink fleshSeedlessNavel orange

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Landscape layersLower canopy

Mature size

Usually 10–20 ft tall and wide; rootstock and pruning change final size

Climate fit

Urban core · USDA 9b–10a · Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b · Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b

Special categories

EDIBLE

Winter chill

None

Typical harvest

Late fall into winter

Before you plant

These conditions determine whether it will thrive.

Required microclimate

Placement is part of the growing system.

Zone A — morning sun, afternoon shade, at the east end of the sunnier south-facing side. Shields thin skin and variegated foliage from west sun, and gives blood oranges the cooler afternoons they need to color.

Cold hardiness

Cover while young

Like most sweet oranges, leaves take damage in the mid 20s and wood holds into the low 20s. Cover it its first two or three winters, and protect the winter crop when a night below 28°F is forecast.

Leaves and wood: damaged below 25°F · Blossoms and fruit: below 28°F

Heat tolerance

Needs afternoon shade

Navels are the most heat-sensitive oranges here. Days in the 90s during April and May bloom make the tree drop much of its young fruit, so water deeply in spring and give it afternoon shade rather than full west sun. Its red flesh colors fine in the desert because it doesn't need winter chill.

Sources:

extension.arizona.edu , galveston.agrilife.org

Right plant, right place

Will Cara Cara navel orange grow at your Arizona property?

Plant in fast-draining soil with the graft union above grade. Keep mulch away from the trunk and avoid lawn irrigation at the root crown.

Best regional fit: Urban core · USDA 9b–10a, Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b, Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b.

Light

Sun exposure

Full sun; young trunks and exposed scaffold limbs need sunburn protection

Water

Irrigation

Deep, regular irrigation with drying between cycles; expand the wetted zone as the canopy grows

Fruit set

Pollination

Self-fruitful

Harvest

How to use it

Fresh eating, salads, and colorful citrus plates

Planting & stewardship

How to help Cara Cara navel orange thrive

1
Verify both the named cultivar and rootstock on the nursery tag before planting.
2
Whitewash newly exposed bark and protect cold-sensitive trees during hard freezes.
3
Feed in several light applications during the active season rather than one heavy dose.
4
Let fruit color and flavor—not a calendar date alone—confirm harvest readiness.

Read the horticultural reference ↗