Wholesale citrus

Hamlin orange

Citrus sinensis ‘Hamlin’

Also known as Early Hamlin

An early, juicy sweet orange with few seeds, ripe in the Valley before the coldest nights. One of the Arizona sweets and a reliable juicing tree.

EdibleSweet orangeEarly seasonJuicing

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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

October through December

Before you plant

These conditions determine whether it will thrive.

Required microclimate

Placement is part of the growing system.

Zone B — sun morning and afternoon on the open south-facing side. Tough enough for full exposure and more productive for the extra hours.

Cold hardiness

Cover while young

A sweet orange that is hardier than most, and it ripens from November so the crop is often picked before the coldest nights. Leaves take damage in the mid 20s like other oranges, so cover it its first two or three winters.

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

Heat tolerance

Takes full sun and heat

Does well in the low desert and takes full sun. Very hot falls can make early oranges like this one dry and grainy inside, so pick on time and go easy on late-season nitrogen.

Sources:

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

Right plant, right place

Will Hamlin 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

Juice and fresh eating

Planting & stewardship

How to help Hamlin 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 ↗