Bush orange is a healthy, drought-tolerant plant that is perfect for low-maintenance gardens. It is an evergreen shrub that can reach up to 3 meters in height, and its orange flowers are a beautiful addition to any garden.
Also called
- Citrus aurantium
- Citrus sinensis
- Fortunella margarita
- Citrus limon
- Citrus paradisi
Basic info
- The bush orange is a native plant of Australia.
- It belongs to the Rutaceae family.
- The scientific name of the bush orange is Citrus glauca.
- The bush orange is an evergreen shrub or small tree.
- It can grow up to 5 meters in height.
- The bush orange has glossy green leaves.
- The flowers are white and have five petals.
- The fruits are orange-colored and have a diameter of 2-3 cm.
- The bush orange is used for ornamental purposes.
- It is also used in the production of essential oils.
Related plant:
Ornamental Bush With Yellow Flowers
How to Grow
- For bush orange, first step is to find a good location. Look for an area that gets plenty of sunlight and has well-draining soil.
- Next, prepare the planting area by clearing away any debris and loosen the soil with a shovel or rake.
- Place your bush orange plant in the planting hole, making sure that the root ball is level with the surrounding soil.
- Backfill the planting hole with soil, tamping it down gently as you go.
- Water the area thoroughly, using a garden hose or watering can.
- Once the plant is established, water it deeply once a week, unless there is significant rainfall.
- Fertilize bush orange plants every two weeks during the growing season, using a general-purpose fertilizer.
- To encourage blooming, prune the bush orange plant judiciously after flowering has ceased.
- Harvest the fruit when it is ripe, typically in late summer or early fall.
- Enjoy your bush orange fruit fresh, or use it in recipes such as marmalade or jelly.
Related plant:
Flowering Almond Bush
The Soil
About soil condition, the bush orange grows best in well-drained soils, it cannot tolerate waterlogged conditions. It prefers a pH in the range 5.5 to 6.5 and is tolerant of a wide range of soil types provided drainage is good.
About light
Just like other citrus trees, the bush orange tree needs full sun to produce healthy fruit. It will also do best in well-drained soil that is not too wet or too dry. Once established, this tree is drought tolerant.
Ideal Temperature
The temperature condition for bush orange is warm. It does best in temperatures that are between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Bush orange will not tolerate temperatures that are below freezing or above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures that are too high or too low will cause the bush orange to drop its leaves.
Humidity Level
Ideal humidity condition for this plant is 50%. If the humidity is too high, the leaves will droop and the plant will stop growing. If the humidity is too low, the leaves will dry out and the plant will stop growing.
Fertilizer Requirement
Discussing fertilizer, this kind of plant needs a lot of nitrogen, so a good rule of thumb is to use a fertilizer with a 3-1-2 or 4-1-2 nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) ratio. You should apply the fertilizer every six weeks or so, and make sure to water the plant well after application. As for the roots, they'll need to be kept moist but not soggy.
Light requirement
Pruning is an important part of keeping your bush orange plant healthy and looking its best. Pruning not only helps to control the shape and size of the plant, but also helps to remove any dead or diseased leaves and branches.
About Propagating
Propagation for bush orange is best done through seed. The seeds should be sown in a well-draining mix and kept moist. Once germination occurs, the seedlings should be transplanted into individual pots. Bush orange can also be propagated through cuttings. The cuttings should be taken from new growth and rooted in a well-draining mix.
Plant Growth
Usually, the plant growth rate depend on the species, but all are relatively slow growers. Some may take years to reach their full potential size, while others may only take a few months. All bush oranges require full sun and well-drained soil to reach their maximum growth potential.
The Problems
Common problems for this kind of plant are lack of fruit, yellow leaves, and wilting. Lack of fruit is often caused by incorrect pruning, insufficient pollination, or improper fertilizer. Yellow leaves can indicate a nutrient deficiency, pests, or disease. Wilting is often caused by drought or overwatering.
Growing Tips
- Do not forget to water your plant regularly. The bush orange plant is a succulent and needs to be kept moist.
- Place the bush orange plant in a sunny spot. It needs full sun to partial shade.
- Fertilize your bush orange plant every two weeks during the growing season with a high-quality succulent fertilizer.
- The bush orange plant can be propagated by stem cuttings. Take a cutting from the tip of a healthy stem and allow it to callus for a few days before potting it up in well-draining succulent soil.
- If your bush orange plant gets too leggy, you can pinch back the stems to promote new growth.
- The bush orange plant is susceptible to mealybugs and scale, so be sure to inspect it regularly for pests.
- If you live in a cold climate, you will need to bring your bush orange plant indoors for the winter.
Alternative Plants
- Coral Tree Coral Tree Coral Trees are blooming trees of genus Erythrina.
- Redbud Redbud Redbuds are flowering trees of genus Cercis.
- Scarlet Oak Scarlet Oak Scarlet Oak is a flowering tree species belonging to genus Quercus.
- Scarlet Witch Scarlet Witch Scarlet Witch is a flowering plant species belonging to genus Erica.
- Smoke Tree Smoke Tree Smoke Tree is a flowering tree species belonging to genus Cotinus.
- Snowbell Snowbell Snowbell is a flowering tree species belonging to genus Styrax.
- Sycamore Sycamore Sycamore is a flowering tree species belonging to genus Platanus.
- Tree of Heaven Tree of Heaven Tree of Heaven is a flowering tree species belonging to genus Ailanthus.
- Tropical Almond Tropical Almond Tropical Almond is a flowering tree species belonging to genusTerminalia.
Source:
Community - The Bush School | Experience Education
Neighbors - Bush School
Student Hub - Orange College
Reviewed & Published by Richelle
Submitted by our contributor
