Citrus made easy for growers, nurseries, and distributors

Seville sour orange trees are primarily grown for two commercial purposes: fruit production and rootstock use. For fruit production, the trees produce tart, aromatic oranges that are rarely eaten fresh due to their sharp acidity but are highly prized for marmalades, preserves, and specialty culinary applications. Their distinctive flavor also makes them valuable in liqueurs, cocktails, and flavoring extracts, especially in traditional European and Mediterranean recipes.

Seville oranges are most suitable for processing and use in landscapes as an ornamental plant.

In commercial settings, Seville orange trees have a moderate, rounded growth habit with dense, thorny branches when young. Mature trees typically reach 15 to 25 feet tall and wide, though size can vary with rootstock and scion. They are evergreen, long-lived, and consistently productive, making them suitable for both fruit production and use as rootstock in orchards. Proper irrigation, nutrition, and pruning help maintain healthy growth and strong yields over decades.

Yes, Seville sour orange is commonly used as a rootstock for other citrus varieties, especially sweet oranges, mandarins, and some grapefruit types. It is valued for its hardiness, drought tolerance, and ability to produce vigorous, productive trees. Trees grafted onto Seville rootstock often have strong growth, good anchorage, and can adapt to a variety of soil types.

However, there are important cons considerations. The most significant is high susceptibility to Citrus Tristeza Virus (CTV). In regions where CTV is present, trees on Seville rootstock can decline rapidly or die. Additionally, Seville rootstock can sometimes produce slightly smaller fruit or influence tree size in ways that may not be ideal for all scion varieties. Growers often weigh Seville’s durability, vigor, and adaptability against the CTV risk, using certified virus-free trees or alternative rootstocks in high-risk areas.

Seville orange trees typically begin producing fruit 3 to 5 years after planting when grown on a suitable rootstock such as C35 citrange. Once established, Seville sour orange trees are moderately to highly productive, often yielding 200 to 400 fruits per mature tree annually under optimal orchard management. Yields can vary based on tree size, soil fertility, irrigation, pruning, and climate.

These trees tend to bear reliably each year, producing fruit with the characteristic tart, aromatic flavor prized for marmalades, culinary use, and as a strong rootstock source. With proper care, Seville orange trees can continue to produce for decades, making them a long-term investment for both commercial fruit production and rootstock purposes.