Origin
Mediterranean
Light
Full sun
Watering
Weekly
Care
Moderate
Flowering
Flowering
Edible & Fruit
Mandarinier
The most fragrant citrus: white blossom in spring, easy-peel fruit in December, and a sensitivity to chalky soil to watch.
Care Profile
A guide to ensuring your botanical companion thrives.
Origin
China
Light
Full sun
Watering
Weekly
Maintenance
Moderate
The citrus of Cap Bon
Native to southern China, the mandarin reached the Mediterranean only in the nineteenth century; in Cap Bon it found the light soil and mild winter that made the peninsula Tunisia's citrus orchard.
It flowers in spring with a scent noticeable from several metres away, then ripens its loose-skinned fruit in December, when cool nights fix the colour.
"The mandarin perfumes twice: first its flower, then its fruit."
01
Styling Tip 01
Full sun
Six to eight hours of direct sun, sheltered from cold winds: heat is what concentrates the sugar in the fruit.
02
Styling Tip 02
Weekly watering
One generous watering a week in the hot season, letting the surface dry between applications.
03
Styling Tip 03
Watch for lime
Leaves yellowing between the veins signal chlorosis: water with low-lime water and add chelated iron.
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Origin
Mediterranean
Light
Full sun
Watering
Rarely
Care
Easy
Flowering
Flowering