Satsuma Fruit Trees

At first glance, it is difficult to distinguish a satsuma orange from other citrus fruits commonly called mandarins or tangerines--all known botanically as Citrus reticulata. Satsuma oranges include varieties developed and named by the Japanese. Canned mandarin oranges sold at the supermarket typically are satsuma fruits. The trees gained fame for being among the most cold hardy of mandarin orange or tangerine tree types. Robert Riffle, author of "The Tropical Look," advises that satsumas should not be called tangerines since satsuma orange fruits do not develop deep orange-red skin.

Satsuma orange trees grow slowly and mature 12 to 18 feet tall with an open, spreading branching structure. Twigs often contain thorns. The evergreen leaves look like oval lances and remain deep green as long as the soil remains fertile and acidic in pH. Riffle describes a satsuma tree as "being one the least attractive varieties of citrus." Fragrant white blossoms occur in early to mid-spring and once pollinated become fruits. Trees may produce more fruits in alternating years.

Like other Citrus reticulata trees, satsuma oranges develop into flattened spheres with a thin rind that easily peels away from the fruit sections inside. Satsumas develop with limited or no seeds. The satsuma oranges change from yellow to golden orange skin and ripen in mid- to late-autumn, much earlier than other trees. The fruit flesh of satsuma oranges produce a significantly sweeter flavor than tangerines and mandarin oranges. You can pick and eat almost mature satsumas in mid- to late-summer even when the rind remains green to greenish yellow.

Since the Japanese bred and selected the first types of satsuma trees in a warm temperature climate, modern varieties demonstrate some of the best tolerance to subfreezing temperatures. Grow satsuma orange trees outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8b through 11. Plants survive 18 degrees Fahrenheit with no damage, according to Darren Sheriff, Charleston County master gardener and hardy citrus expert. Temperatures dropping to 15 degrees Fahrenheit results in significant leaf death and branch die back.

With a Japanese legacy centering around the city of Wenzhou in the Ouahi district, many of the satsuma cultivar names are Japanese and may help distinguish them from other mandarin orange or tangerine tree varieties grown. Owari is the primary satsuma orange tree cultivar grown in the American West. Other cultivars include Okitsu Wase, Miho Wase, Kimbrough and Early St. Anne.