Friday, August 26, 2022

Calamondin Oranges

Aerin Lauder

 
Such a beautiful dining room in Aerin Lauder's Hamptons home. 

Here it is again below with some changes.


Aerin Lauder


And redone again - look how the calamondin orange trees have grown!


Aerin Lauder


I love the beautifully skirted tables and the chairs - folding bamboo in one and rattan and wicker in the others. I am especially intrigued by the calamondin orange trees.

Calamondin citrus trees are cold hardy citrus (hardy to 20 degrees F.) that are a cross between a mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata, tangerine, or Satsuma) and a kumquat (Fortunella margarita). Calamondin citrus trees were introduced from China to the U.S. around 1900. Used in the United States primarily for ornamental purposes and often as a bonsai specimen, Calamondin trees are cultivated throughout southern Asia and Malaysia, India, and the Philippines for their citrus juice. Since the 1960’s, potted calamondin citrus trees have been shipped from southern Florida to other areas of North America for use as houseplants; Israel does much the same thing for the European market.

Calamondin trees are small, bushy evergreens that can attain heights of 10-20 feet high, but are usually much shorter in stature. Small spines are apparent on the branches of growing calamondin trees, which bear fabulous orange-scented blossoms that become small orange fruit (1 inch in diameter resembling a tangerine.) The segmented fruit is seedless and extremely acidic. 

Here is a pair at the front entrance of Danielle Rollins' Palm Beach home.

They can be grown indoors with good sunlight or outdoors in zones 8 - 11.


Danielle Rollins


I would love to try my hand at growing these. Have any of you grown them? Indoors or outside?

Aerin Lauder has hers in baskets. I think these containers would work beautifully for indoor plants depending on the plant's size.


Southport Planters


Rattan Plant Pot


Rattan Planter


2 Pack of Rattan Planters


Extra Large Natural Wicker Planter


If you would like the look without the upkeep, this is a faux calamondin orange tree. I love the topiary style that would take up very little room and even the pot looks nice.


Nearly Natural Orange Tree


In a more tree-like style, this one looks great but would require a basket or other container.


Vickerman Orange Tree


One or a pair would be wonderful in a foyer, breakfast room, or screened in porch.




19 comments:

  1. Dear Beth, Orange is my most Happy Color! Thanks for the up date, Al

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  2. Outside here in California. I had one for a while and liked looking at it. Eating it - not so much!

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    1. I am interested to try it - I love lemon and it is supposed to be similar.

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  3. Hi, Can you please educate me on how to put a potted plant in a basket or wicker plant stand? I know the plant has to be in a container that holds dirt and water, plus have a water saucer of some sort underneath the pot. Do you put everything in the plant stand/holder? How are those trees in the basket with dirt or moss at the base of the trees? Thanks, I've never had the time or inclination to have potted plants but a orange tree looks so fun!

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    1. I am not a houseplant person at all except for orchids and I water them with ice cubes. For plants in baskets, I would put the plant in the plastic pot that it came in and a saucer underneath, but water it in the shower, bathtub, or outside and let it drain well.

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  4. They are beautiful trees, and I'm with Anonymous - orange is definitely a happy color!

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  5. I live on Fla., east central coast, on a barrier island. My neighbor has had 2 for years, planted in the ground near her patio. She makes wonderful calamondine cakes from their juice. They are quite hardy.

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    1. I had thought of them as mostly ornamental - great to know you can cook with them too.

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  6. Our next-door neighbor used to have a big calamondin tree and he always told us to take as many as we wanted. I would use them to make a Key Lime type pie. My daughter gave me one for Mother's Day a few years ago and it is doing beautifully in my yard.

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    1. What nursery did you recommend in Sarasota for citrus trees? Thanks.

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    2. Crowley Nursery is probably the best. You go all the way east on Fruitville to the end and turn right. It is a short distance from there. Your GPS will give you the complete details, but it will look like you are out in the boondocks because you go down two little dirt road lanes, but it is a great nursery!

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    3. Thanks so much. I will try to get there this week.

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  7. I live in SW Florida had 2 inground in my backyard, but they generally don't last more than 8-10 years. The fruit is small and extremely bitter, but I used them in cocktails. We also had a woman nearby who made marmalade from them which is absolutely delicious. The marmalade is a unique hostess gift when visiting friends and family not from sunny Florida.

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    1. That sounds wonderful. I am excited to try growing them.

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  8. I grow them in Seattle, also limes and kumquats! I leave them outside near the house in the summer, then indoors in the winter where they blossom and oftentimes produce fruit. The Calamondin ALWAYS fruits. I put fairy lights on it and love having it in my family room.

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    Replies
    1. Oh how nice. Here in South Florida they will be outside all year.

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  9. A great alternative to calamondins is meyer lemons. They take a few years to get going but can produce prolific quantities of lemons, and their blossoms have a lovely scent as well. They can be overwintered indoors and have a lovely growth habit.

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