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Dancy Tangerine Trees for Sale
Citrus made easy for growers, nurseries, and distributors
The Dancy tangerine tree has a long and storied history in American citrus, once considered the standard bearer of tangerine varieties. Officially, a Dancy is a Mandarin, but people know it by the old-fashioned name “Tangerine.” At TreeSource, we continue to offer this classic variety for home growers, collectors, and small orchards looking for rich flavor and traditional citrus character. Sometimes called the “Christmas tangerine” for its historic holiday market popularity, the Dancy tree produces small to medium fruit with a deep reddish-orange rind that’s aromatic and easy to peel.
Mandarin Trees Your Way
From seed to container-ready.
How Our Dancy Tangerine Trees Are Different
When purchasing Gillette navel orange trees from TreeSource, growers receive clean-propagated, true-to-type material from verified budwood sources. We emphasize uniformity, strong root development, and early structure so trees establish quickly and grow evenly. Shipping is handled in heavy-duty palletized triwall containers designed to secure pots and protect canopies, ensuring trees arrive healthy, stable, and ready to plant.
For orchardists and collectors seeking a classic California navel with heirloom pedigree, the Gillette orange offers a balanced, true-navel eating experience and a reliable mid-season harvest window. Whether planted in commercial rows, boutique groves, or heritage blocks, Gillette connects growers to the foundational era of California citrus — supported today by TreeSource’s clean stock program and professional handling to ensure healthy establishment and long-term success.
Dancy Tangerine Tree FAQs
What are the preferred rootstocks for Dancy tangerine trees?
Dancy tangerines are commonly grown on Carrizo, C35, or Rich 16-6 trifoliate. However, they work on almost any rootstock.
What is the growing and ripening schedule usually like for the Dancy tangerine trees you sell?
Dancy tangerine trees from TreeSource typically begin blooming in early to mid-spring, around March or April, depending on local climate conditions. After bloom, the fruit slowly matures over several months. Dancy is a mid- to late-season variety, with fruit usually ripening from November through January.
In warmer areas, harvest may begin as early as late October, but peak quality generally occurs in December. Dancy tangerines are best when left to fully ripen on the tree, developing their characteristic rich flavor and deep reddish-orange color during the cooler months.
Do you have semi-dwarf Dancy tangerine trees in stock? If so, what should I know about their care?
TreeSource is a wholesale supplier and occasionally has Dancy tangerines on our Availability List. C35 and Rich 16-6 trifoliate rootstocks would produce a semi-dwarf tree. Their care is no different than any other citrus tree, and we suggest you buy the Ortho book All about Citrus & Subtropical Fruits to help you with your tree.
What climate zones are best for growing citrus Dancy tangerine trees?
Dancy tangerine trees grow best in USDA hardiness zones 9 to 11, where winters are mild and frost is infrequent. These zones typically include parts of California, Arizona, Texas, and coastal regions of the Southeast.
Dancy trees are somewhat more cold-sensitive than newer hybrids, so they need protection from hard freezes. In borderline areas like Zone 8b, they can sometimes be grown successfully with frost protection or in containers that can be moved indoors during cold snaps. Ideal conditions include plenty of sunlight, well-drained soil, and warm daytime temperatures with mild nights during the fruit-ripening season.
Is cross-pollination an issue with Dancy tangerine trees?
Cross-pollination is generally not an issue with Dancy tangerine trees, but it can affect certain aspects of fruit production depending on what you're aiming for. Dancy is self-fertile, meaning it doesn’t require another citrus variety nearby to set fruit. It will reliably produce fruit on its own.
However, Dancy tangerines contain seeds, and if they’re grown near other citrus varieties that bloom at the same time—especially other mandarins or tangerines—cross-pollination can increase seed count in the fruit. If minimizing seed production is important, planting away from other citrus trees or using isolation strategies, such as bee nets during bloom, can help.
For most home growers or small orchardists, cross-pollination isn’t a major concern unless seediness is a specific drawback. The fruit quality, flavor, and yield remain excellent with or without nearby citrus.