Everybody loves citrus (and if you don’t, I’ll say a prayer for you, Mr. Grinch). Lemons, limes, kumquats and tangerines all make the “awesome” list, but perhaps the most universally loved and appreciated citrus fruit is the amazingly versatile and fantastically tasty orange.

As a gardener in the far north, homegrown oranges are possible with a little help from a windowsill garden and a dwarf-sized tree — but with so many varieties to choose from, how do you select the perfect dwarf orange tree for your limited windowsill space? When I first started my tropical fruit windowsill garden, I was pretty bummed to find that I’d wasted four precious years of growing time and windowsill space on an orange tree that would never produce anything but sour, baking-quality oranges that were never intended for fresh eating. Today, I’m happy to report that with a little digging I’ve found a wide variety of dwarf-sized sweet orange trees that will survive a northern-zone winter on your windowsill. Can’t find these varieties in your local farm store? I’ve dropped a link at the bottom of each description to the website of reputable nurseries so you can order one for snail-mail delivery!

*Note: I do NOT get a financial incentive to post these links. I post them simply because I find them helpful and I wanted to share!

CALAMONDIN ORANGE: SUPER POPULAR, SUPER SOUR

The windowsill-citrus supply chain has changed a lot since I first started growing, but what hasn’t changed is that the calamondin orange is still high on the popularity list. The windowsill-citrus supply chain has changed a lot since I first started growing, but what hasn’t changed is that the calamondin orange is still high on the popularity list.

What many people do NOT know is that the calamondin is not considered a “sweet” orange. Although a great option for kitchen use — think to add a citrusy flavor, or to substitute for recipes calling for lemons — this orange is decidedly sour and is guaranteed to make your lips pucker. That’s not to say that this is a useless tree. The calamondin is a gorgeous, easy-grow variety that adds fantastic style to your patio (as well as your windowsill in the winter!) and the peels are edible, making for a great sour-citrusy zest for any recipes — baked goods, homemade soaps, and more — that call for a little zing.

There’s a ton of information on this little tree online, but I’d recommend avoiding some of the commercial sites (who are sadly motivated to make false promises) and instead look through ag-extension sites. There’s a great article on the calamondin through the University of Florida’s extension blog, which gives a great summary of the tree (did you know the calamondin orange is a cross between a mandarin and a kumquat? I didn’t!).

Looking for your own? I got mine from the awesome citrus selection at Stark Bros, but there are loads of other suppliers out there that you can connect with. This is also one orange that is commonly found in local farm and garden stores, so keep your eyes peeled!

BLOOD ORANGE: COLOR AND FLAVOR

Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to the full package of the orange world. This little guy deep, rich coloring is dramatically distinctive; personally, I prefer to use its other colloquial name the “Raspberry Orange,” but since most people know it as a blood orange, that’s what I’m calling it in this post just to avoid confusion… but in my head, y’all know I’m THINKING raspberry all the way.

In addition to the gorgeous coloring, the blood orange is — yay! — typically sweet enough for fresh eating. There are many varieties of blood orange, so the taste will vary by specific cultivar, but you are much more likely to end up with a snackable fruit than you are when you take a bite out of a calamondin.

I got mine from the fantabulously awesome citrus selection at Logees, but there are lots of other online-ordering options out there — and many varieties to choose from!

VALENCIA ORANGE: SWEET AND JUICY

This one is on my list and has been for years. I have my eye on the potted Valencia orange tree from Stark Bro’s, but I have seen it for sale elsewhere, too. One of the more commonly available sweet oranges suited for indoor windowsill growing, the Valencia orange is a fantastic sweet orange for juicing.

In the caveat side of lie, do be aware that although it looks like an easy-peel tangerine or halo, the Valencia doesn’t typically slip off the rind all that easily or cleanly… if ease of peeling is high on your list, you may want to keep shopping. Depending on where you purchase your potted tree, these oranges are sometimes seeded, so be careful and don’t bite down without checking first! If you are planning make orange juice, I am old school and I use a manual crank-style food mill to remove seeds from fruit pastes and juices (like applesauce. My favorite!). It’s some extra work, but it’s better than choking on an unexpected seed. If you get a seedless variety of the Valencia, you won’t have to worry about it, but just throwing the suggestion out there…

TIGER NAVEL ORANGE: INCREDIBLE STRIPED FRUIT

 

I know, I should be reviewing the trees I have (my Tahitian orange tree didn’t even make the list!) instead of the trees I want – but of all the new windowsill orange trees popping up on the market, this is the one highest on my list. Logee’s started offering this uniquely striped orange and boy does it look cool. For gardeners who are concerned about producing edible fruit, this windowsill orange is also advertised as a sweet-type orange – which is great, because when an orange is sour, it is SOUR.

Do be aware that the stripes are faint, and it’s not like you’re getting and orange and black tiger stripe; folks, this is vegetable, not animal, so think more green than black in the stripes. Still visually stunning, and with nice flavor to match. This tree is on my list partially because it’s such a great visual complement to the variegated pink lemon tree I already have growing on my windowsill. I mean, if you’re growing potted citrus trees, you might as well pick the most interesting kinds, right? There’s only so much room to grow orange and lemon trees indoors before the people have to start sleeping outside!

MYRTLE LEAF ORANGE: PRIMARILY ORNAMENTAL

This orange tree is a great windowsill-friendly bonsai option, but maybe not the best for fresh eating. The fruit is sour, and for me personally, if I am going to go to the trouble of growing citrus trees indoors, I am going to be very picky about how I “budget” my limited windowsill space.

You can find the myrtle leaf orange for sale at Logee’s or other online nurseries.

SELECTING A DWARF ORANGE TREE TO GROW INDOORS

Now, I don’t mean to say that these five orange trees are the ONLY options out there, but they are some of the most common types you will find in nursery catalogs or your local farm store (unless you are one of those lucky people who lives in an oasis of southern-zone citrus options). There are so many varieties with specialty uses and unique benefits that regardless of what you’re hoping to get out of your windowsill citrus “orchard,” you’re sure to find a variety that bred just for you. Happy gardening!

**Note to info-seeking gardeners: If you’re REALLY in the mood to do some research on the many options for citrus trees (particularly oranges) that are out there, you can take a look at the University of California’s article on citrus varieties, an extensive article with tons of information on the species. It might be a little more than you want to dig through, but I’ve referenced it here and there when I have a question about a specific type of orange tree.