Wholesale citrus

Valencia orange

Citrus sinensis ‘Valencia’

Arizona’s premier late orange for deeply colored, high-sugar juice, ripening after the winter navel season.

EdibleJuice orangeLate harvestFew seeds

Check the current program →

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

February or March into late spring in the low desert

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

Like most sweet oranges, leaves take damage in the mid 20s. Its fruit hangs on the tree all winter and ripens in spring, so cover the tree when a night below 28°F is forecast if you want to save the crop.

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

Heat tolerance

Takes full sun and heat

Needs lots of heat to ripen and thrives here in full sun. Late-hanging fruit turns green again in summer heat, but the juice inside stays good.

Sources:

extension.arizona.edu , galveston.agrilife.org , escholarship.org

Right plant, right place

Will Valencia 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

Excellent juice and good fresh eating

Planting & stewardship

How to help Valencia 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 ↗