Citrus made easy for growers, nurseries, and distributors

Shasta Gold, Tahoe Gold, and Yosemite Gold mandarins were all developed at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) from the same parentage — Temple tangor × Dancy mandarin × Encore mandarin — but they differ in fruit size, harvest timing, and tree growth characteristics such as thorniness.

The Shasta Gold mandarin tree produces the largest fruit of the three, with a broad, slightly flattened shape and a rich orange rind that’s easy to peel. Fruit size commonly averages 150–200 grams, compared to 120–160 grams for Tahoe and Yosemite. The flesh is deep orange, juicy, and seedless, with a balanced flavor that’s both sweet and low in acid. Shasta Gold typically matures from January through March in California’s interior citrus districts and maintains excellent eating quality even when held on the tree late into the season. Its rind remains firm and resists puffing, allowing longer hang time and more flexible harvest scheduling. It does have thorns, which makes it unviable as a mainstream variety for commercial farmers.

Tahoe Gold ripens just before Shasta in most regions—usually December through February—and produces slightly smaller fruit with high internal color and sweetness. It’s known for a rich flavor but doesn’t hang as long on the tree, making it best suited for early-season harvests. Yosemite Gold matures last, generally February through April, and while similar in taste and rind color, its fruit is a bit smaller and more oblong, with a tendency to puff if harvest is delayed.

Shasta Gold mandarin trees grow best in warm, sunny climates with well-drained sandy or loam soils and consistent irrigation. They thrive in USDA Zones 9–11, prefer low to moderate humidity, and benefit from warm days with cool nights to enhance color and sweetness. Protection from frost and strong winds is important for optimal fruit quality and yield.

Shasta Gold mandarin trees are naturally vigorous and develop dense canopies, so they benefit from regular, moderate pruning to maintain light penetration and airflow. After harvest, remove crowded interior shoots and crossing branches to open the canopy and encourage new fruiting wood. Avoid heavy cuts that stimulate excessive vegetative growth. Annual thinning of older interior limbs helps balance fruit size and yield while reducing the risk of puffiness and delayed coloring. In commercial orchards, mechanical hedging followed by selective hand pruning is often used to keep trees uniform, maintain efficient spray coverage, and ensure consistent production year to year.

Yes. Shasta Gold mandarin trees can be successfully grown in containers, making them ideal for patio or specialty retail sales. When grafted onto semi-dwarf rootstocks such as Carrizo or C-35, the trees maintain a manageable size while producing full-sized, seedless fruit. A large, well-draining container—such as a 20–25 gallon pot or a repurposed wine barrel—provides ample root space and stability for long-term growth. Use a premium citrus potting mix, maintain steady irrigation, and feed with a balanced, slow-release citrus fertilizer.

Trees should receive at least 6–8 hours of full sun daily, and containers must allow good drainage to prevent root rot. In cooler regions, potted Shasta Gold trees can be moved to a protected area or greenhouse during frost events. This flexibility makes them an attractive option for home gardeners and specialty nurseries seeking to offer a high-quality, late-season mandarin with strong ornamental and retail appeal.

Yes. All Shasta Gold mandarin trees from TreeSource are certified disease-free and approved for interstate shipping under California’s nursery certification and USDA/APHIS compliance programs. Each tree originates from clean, virus-free budwood sourced through the California Citrus Clonal Protection Program (CCPP), ensuring it is true-to-type and free from serious citrus pathogens such as tristeza, exocortis, and HLB-associated bacteria.

TreeSource operates within a state-inspected, fully certified facility, which allows our trees to be shipped legally and safely to nearly all U.S. citrus-growing regions. Current USDA and state regulations permit interstate movement to most states, with exceptions for restricted citrus zones such as Florida and Texas due to ongoing quarantine measures.