Wholesale citrus

Clementine mandarin

Citrus × clementina ‘Algerian’

Also known as Algerian mandarin · Clementine

An early, easy-peeling mandarin whose crop size and seed count both rise when compatible citrus bloom nearby.

EdibleEasy peelEarly harvestCold tolerant citrus

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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

November in the low desert

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

Mandarins are among the hardier citrus, and the Clementine tree is rated strongly cold-resistant. Wood holds into the low 20s. It ripens in November, so the fruit is usually picked before frost. Cover it its first two or three winters.

Leaves and wood: damaged below 22°F · Blossoms and fruit: below 26°F

Heat tolerance

Shade from late-afternoon sun

Desert heat ripens it very early. Fruit set is touchy, so hot dry spells at bloom can cut the crop. Morning sun with some afternoon shade suits it best.

Sources:

citrusvariety.ucr.edu , ucanr.edu , extension.arizona.edu

Right plant, right place

Will Clementine mandarin 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

Can set alone; cross-pollination increases crop and seeds

Harvest

How to use it

Fresh eating

Planting & stewardship

How to help Clementine mandarin 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 ↗