Citrus trees for sale
Before the cold weather blows in and the winter fruit tree sales start up, I want to take this opportunity to warn people about some of the common pitfalls associated with buying citrus trees. Citrus trees generally don't grow well on their own roots, and so they are usually grafted onto rootstocks. However, not all rootstocks grow well in Houston's climate and soils, so selecting citrus trees grafted onto the appropriate rootstocks is critical if you want your new citrus tree to grow and thrive.
Poncirus trofoliata (Trifoliate) is generally considered to be the best rootstock for Houston, but it can also be the hardest to find. Many growers choose to use other rootstocks other than Trifoliate because they produce trees large enough for sale more quickly than the slower-growing Trifoliate. I prefer to buy trees grafted onto Trifoliate and Flying Dragon (another type of Trifoliate), but I will also buy trees on Carrizo Citrange for well drained areas. I should also mention that I protect my citrus from hard freezes, and if you don't want to go through that effort, Carrizo Citrange isn't for you. Trees grafted onto other rootstocks such as Sour Orange, Volkamer Lemon, or Swingle Citrumelo either get sick in our clay soil, are killed by freezes, or are susceptible to pests/diseases, and I wouldn’t recommending them. Here are some brief descriptions of the various rootstocks commonly used by Houston area growers:
Poncirus trofoliata (Trifoliate) is generally considered to be the best rootstock for Houston, but it can also be the hardest to find. Many growers choose to use other rootstocks other than Trifoliate because they produce trees large enough for sale more quickly than the slower-growing Trifoliate. I prefer to buy trees grafted onto Trifoliate and Flying Dragon (another type of Trifoliate), but I will also buy trees on Carrizo Citrange for well drained areas. I should also mention that I protect my citrus from hard freezes, and if you don't want to go through that effort, Carrizo Citrange isn't for you. Trees grafted onto other rootstocks such as Sour Orange, Volkamer Lemon, or Swingle Citrumelo either get sick in our clay soil, are killed by freezes, or are susceptible to pests/diseases, and I wouldn’t recommending them. Here are some brief descriptions of the various rootstocks commonly used by Houston area growers:
- Trifoliate (PT, TF) - The most cold tolerant rootstock available; very resistant to root rot; grows well with poor drainage and clay soil; tough and resistant to many soil diseases; produces a semi-dwarf tree. Considered to be the best all-around rootstock for Houston.
- Flying Dragon (FD) - A more dwarfing form of trifoliate with curved thorns and branches; produces a very slow-growing dwarf tree. Good for tight spaces, or for trees that will be grown in containers.
- Carrizo Citrange - A Trifoliate x Washington navel orange hybrid; cold tolerant, but vulnerable to rapid cold fronts and late freezes; sensitive to poor drainage. Good for trees that will be protected from hard freezes and planted in a slightly raised spot with better drainage.
- Swingle Citrumelo (SW) - A Duncan grapefruit x Trifoliate hybrid; resistant to root rot, but it gets sick in heavy clay soil; relatively cold tolerant; produces a very vigorous tree. Only recommended for trees that will be protected from hard freezes and planted in very well-drained soil.
- Sour Orange - The standard rootstock used in the Rio Grande Valley because it is tolerant of salty soils; moderately cold tolerant; produces a very vigorous tree. Not recommended for Houston.
- Volkamer Lemon - Natural lemon x Sour orange hybrid; highly susceptible to root rot; relatively tolerant of salty soils; produces a very vigorous tree; poor cold tolerance; produces fruit of poor quality. Not recommended for Houston.
Unfortunately, when shopping for a citrus tree at a nursery or a fruit tree sale, it can be very difficult to find out what rootstock a tree is grafted on. Most growers don’t list the rootstock on the label, most nursery employees won’t have any idea if you ask, and don't even bother asking at Home Depot or Walmart. Fortunately, there is a way to find out. By law, all citrus trees must carry a label that says “Produced in Texas”, and that lists the name and license number of the nursery where the tree was grown.Most often the only way to find out what rootstock was used is to contact the grower listed on the label. To try to make this easier for people, I called several growers that supply citrus trees to Houston area retail nurseries, and asked them what rootstock they used. The results of this survey are listed below, and have also been provided as a downloadable PDF. I highly recommend that you print out this list and take it with you when shopping for citrus trees, and use it make sure you're getting a good tree that will produce fruit for years.
ROOTSTOCKS USED BY HOUSTON AREA GROWERS:
Bob Wells Nursery - License #: 0309097 - Phone: 903.882.3550
Trees are grafted onto Sour Orange.
Brazos Citrus Nursery - License #: 0398916 - Phone: 979.345.2906
Most trees are grafted onto Carrizo Citrange, with some on Trifoliate (not labeled). Trees grafted to Flying Dragon noted on the tag as "Dwarf". Kumquats are grafted onto Trifoliate.
Creekside Nursery - License #: 0249706 - Phone: 979.826.2461
Trees are grafted on Trifoliate, Flying Dragon, or Swingle Citrumelo. The rootstock may not be listed on tag.
Froberg Citrus Trees - License #: 0471456 - Phone: 281.798.6282
Trees are grafted onto Trifoliate or Flying Dragon. Stock grafted onto Flying Dragon labeled “Dwarf”.
Greenleaf Nursery - License #: 0000608 - Phone: 800.237.3147
Rio Red Grapefruit and Navel Oranges are grafted onto Sour Orange. All other citrus are grown on their own roots.
John Panzarella - License #: 0383364 - Phone: 979.297.2120
Trees are grafted onto Trifoliate or Flying Dragon. Rootstocks are listed on the tags.
Laughing Frog Farm - License #: 0525700 - Phone: 713.542.6615
Trees are grafted onto Trifoliate, and are grown using organic methods.
Premier Plants - License #: 0611332/0465892 - Phone: 956.624.0447
Trees are grafted onto Sour Orange.
Ran Pro Farms - License #: 0000063 - Phone: 903.593.7381
Lemons, Oranges, Grapefruit, and Kumquats are grafted onto Sour Orange. Mandarins/Tangerines are grafted onto Swingle Citrumelo. Limes are grown on their own roots.
Raytoria - License #: 0465284 -Phone: 956.464.4431
Trees are grafted onto Sour Orange.
Rio Grande Nursery - License #: 0462709/0002307 -Phone: 956.831.9318
Trees are grafted onto Sour Orange.
Saxon Becnel & Sons - License #: 0466090 - Phone: 504.656.7535
Trees other than kumquats are grafted onto Carrizo Citrange. Kumquats are grafted onto Volkamer Lemon. Most common supplier to big box stores.
Treesearch Farms - License #: 0005826 - Phone: 713.937.9811
Trees grafted onto Trifoliate, Flying Dragon, or Swingle Citrumelo. Treesearch always lists the rootstock on the tag.
Bob Wells Nursery - License #: 0309097 - Phone: 903.882.3550
Trees are grafted onto Sour Orange.
Brazos Citrus Nursery - License #: 0398916 - Phone: 979.345.2906
Most trees are grafted onto Carrizo Citrange, with some on Trifoliate (not labeled). Trees grafted to Flying Dragon noted on the tag as "Dwarf". Kumquats are grafted onto Trifoliate.
Creekside Nursery - License #: 0249706 - Phone: 979.826.2461
Trees are grafted on Trifoliate, Flying Dragon, or Swingle Citrumelo. The rootstock may not be listed on tag.
Froberg Citrus Trees - License #: 0471456 - Phone: 281.798.6282
Trees are grafted onto Trifoliate or Flying Dragon. Stock grafted onto Flying Dragon labeled “Dwarf”.
Greenleaf Nursery - License #: 0000608 - Phone: 800.237.3147
Rio Red Grapefruit and Navel Oranges are grafted onto Sour Orange. All other citrus are grown on their own roots.
John Panzarella - License #: 0383364 - Phone: 979.297.2120
Trees are grafted onto Trifoliate or Flying Dragon. Rootstocks are listed on the tags.
Laughing Frog Farm - License #: 0525700 - Phone: 713.542.6615
Trees are grafted onto Trifoliate, and are grown using organic methods.
Premier Plants - License #: 0611332/0465892 - Phone: 956.624.0447
Trees are grafted onto Sour Orange.
Ran Pro Farms - License #: 0000063 - Phone: 903.593.7381
Lemons, Oranges, Grapefruit, and Kumquats are grafted onto Sour Orange. Mandarins/Tangerines are grafted onto Swingle Citrumelo. Limes are grown on their own roots.
Raytoria - License #: 0465284 -Phone: 956.464.4431
Trees are grafted onto Sour Orange.
Rio Grande Nursery - License #: 0462709/0002307 -Phone: 956.831.9318
Trees are grafted onto Sour Orange.
Saxon Becnel & Sons - License #: 0466090 - Phone: 504.656.7535
Trees other than kumquats are grafted onto Carrizo Citrange. Kumquats are grafted onto Volkamer Lemon. Most common supplier to big box stores.
Treesearch Farms - License #: 0005826 - Phone: 713.937.9811
Trees grafted onto Trifoliate, Flying Dragon, or Swingle Citrumelo. Treesearch always lists the rootstock on the tag.
Contact information for growers not listed above can be found here: http://www.texasagriculture.gov/Portals/0/Reports/PIR/nurseryfloral.xls
