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Citrus reticulata ‘Emperor’ – Emperor Mandarin Tree

Citrus reticulata ‘Emperor’ – Emperor Mandarin Tree

Reliable crops of sweet easy-peel mandarins make this variety highly suitable for productive home orchard planting.

Regular price $190.00
Sale price $190.00 Regular price
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Pot size
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Size: 30cm/33m
Current height guide
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Pot size
30cm/33m

Approximate only. Minimum height important? Confirm with us.

Height guide & disclaimer

Height guide disclaimer: Height ranges are approximate only. As living products, plant heights naturally vary between individual plants, batches, and seasons. No guarantee is given that supplied plants will fall within the stated range. If minimum heights are required, you must confirm current batch heights with Evergreen Trees Direct prior to purchase. Variation in height is normal and is not grounds for return, refund, replacement, or compensation.

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Size / batchEachQuantity
30cm/33mApprox. height: Enquire for current heights$190.00

Height guide & disclaimer

Height guide disclaimer: Height ranges are approximate only. As living products, plant heights naturally vary between individual plants, batches, and seasons. No guarantee is given that supplied plants will fall within the stated range. If minimum heights are required, you must confirm current batch heights with Evergreen Trees Direct prior to purchase. Variation in height is normal and is not grounds for return, refund, replacement, or compensation.

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    About Citrus reticulata ‘Emperor’

    Citrus reticulata 'Emperor' is an evergreen mandarin with a dense rounded canopy of glossy dark green leaves. It carries medium to large fruit with loose orange skin that peels easily and sweet, aromatic flesh. Scented white flowers open through spring, and the tree keeps its foliage and its shape right through the year.

    Grow it in full sun in fertile, free draining soil, keeping water consistent while the tree establishes and while fruit is filling. It suits warm temperate, subtropical, Mediterranean and sheltered coastal areas and takes light to moderate frost once established. Growth is around 30 to 60 centimetres a year and it responds well to feeding.

    Emperor is a standard choice for home orchards and productive garden beds, and it holds its form well enough for a courtyard or a large container on paving. It crops early, which spreads the citrus harvest across the season if you already grow later varieties. Useful, ornamental and straightforward to manage.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    About Emperor Mandarin

    What is an Emperor mandarin?

    'Emperor' is one of the most widely grown mandarins in Australia, valued for medium to large fruit with a loose skin that slips off in one piece. The flesh is sweet and aromatic and carries some seeds. It is an evergreen tree with a dense rounded canopy, glossy foliage and fragrant white spring flowers.

    How fast does an Emperor mandarin grow?

    Roughly 30 to 60 centimetres a year in reasonable soil with regular water and feeding, slowing as the tree approaches its mature size of about 2 to 3 metres. Growth is quickest in the first few years while the framework forms, then energy shifts into fruit production. Trees held in containers grow more slowly again.

    When is Emperor mandarin fruit ready to pick?

    Emperor is an early season mandarin. Flowers open in spring and fruit generally colours and sweetens from about April through to June, ahead of most other mandarins. Taste before you pick heavily, since skin colour on its own can be misleading. Fruit holds reasonably well on the tree but loses quality if left well past ripeness.

    Is an Emperor mandarin evergreen?

    Yes. It holds glossy dark green foliage all year, so it reads as permanent structure in a garden rather than a bare framework over winter. Some leaf drop is normal in late winter and after a heavy crop. A yellowing canopy usually points to cold wet roots or a need for feeding rather than seasonal leaf loss.

    Where does Emperor mandarin grow best in Australia?

    It performs across warm temperate, subtropical and Mediterranean districts, which covers coastal New South Wales, southern Queensland, the warmer parts of Victoria, Perth and the Adelaide plains. Sheltered coastal gardens suit it provided salt laden wind is filtered by a fence or hedge. In cold inland areas it needs frost protection while young.

    Can Emperor mandarin be grown in a large pot?

    Yes, in a container at least 50 to 60 centimetres across with a free draining premium potting mix and full sun. Potted trees dry out fast, so check moisture every couple of days in summer and feed with a citrus fertiliser through the growing season. Refresh the top layer of mix each year and repot every three or four years.

    How do I care for an Emperor mandarin tree?

    Keep water up from flowering to harvest, mulch the root zone and hold the mulch clear of the trunk. Feed with a complete citrus fertiliser in early spring and late summer. Prune lightly after picking to open the centre and remove any shoots from below the graft. Monitor for scale, aphids, citrus leaf miner and bronze orange bug.

    Foliage

    Evergreen (foliage year round)

    Position
    • Full Sun
    Form
    • Rounded
    • Dense
    Use
    • Edible Garden
    Mature height
    3m to 5m
    Mature width
    2m to 4m

    Planting Information

    How To Plant Your Citrus reticulata ‘Emperor’ – Emperor Mandarin Tree

    Site: Choose a well-drained position in full sun to part shade with room for the canopy to develop.

    Soil preparation: Enrich the planting area with quality compost and aged manure for a strong establishment phase.

    Hole: Dig twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth.

    Planting: Position level with the surrounding soil, backfill gently, firm in, then water deeply to settle the roots.

    Recommended Planting Spacing For Your Citrus reticulata ‘Emperor’ – Emperor Mandarin Tree

    Feature tree: 3 to 4 metres apart to allow the full canopy and form to develop.

    Avenue planting: 3 metres apart for a uniform soft-textured avenue.

    Citrus reticulata ‘Emperor’ – Emperor Mandarin Tree is expected to grow 30cm to 60cm per year under suitable conditions.

    • Medium Growth Rate

    Long Term Care For Your Citrus reticulata ‘Emperor’ – Emperor Mandarin Tree

    Watering: Water deeply twice weekly through the first 12 months. Once established, reduce to once weekly in dry periods. Mulch helps maintain consistent moisture.

    Mulching: Apply a 5 to 7 centimetre layer of organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it 5 centimetres clear of the trunk.

    Pruning: Minimal pruning required. Light tip prune in late winter to maintain shape if used as hedging or screening. For a clear trunk feature, remove lower branches as the tree grows.

    Fertilising: Apply a slow-release general-purpose fertiliser in early spring and again in autumn for steady growth and consistent foliage colour.

    Pest and disease: Hardy against most pests and diseases. Occasional scale or caterpillar inspection in warm humid conditions is all that's needed.

    Planting Your Citrus reticulata ‘Emperor’ – Emperor Mandarin Tree in Different Soil

    Citrus reticulata performs best in well-drained loam or sandy loam with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Adaptable to a wide range of soils when drainage is improved with organic matter.

    Sandy soil: Free-draining and ideal. Mulch well to maintain consistent moisture.

    Clay soil: Improve drainage with gypsum and organic compost before planting.

    Loam: The preferred soil for steady root development and consistent growth.

    pH: Slightly acidic to neutral preferred. Mulch with composted leaf litter to maintain levels naturally.

    Uses in my Garden

    Uses in my Garden

    • Edible Garden

    Citrus reticulata ‘Emperor’ – Emperor Mandarin Tree works in an:

    • Mediterranean Style Garden – timeless courtyard look with stone, pots, and bold greenery.
    • Contemporary / Architectural Garden – striking forms for bold design statements.

    Is Citrus reticulata ‘Emperor’ – Emperor Mandarin Tree Evergreen or Deciduous?

    Citrus reticulata ‘Emperor’ – Emperor Mandarin Tree is an Evergreen (foliage year round) Tree

    Mature Height & Width

    Mature Height: 3m to 5m

    Mature Width: 2m to 4m

    Citrus reticulata ‘Emperor’ – Emperor Mandarin Tree is expected to grow 30cm to 60cm per year under suitable conditions.

    Growth Rate of Citrus reticulata ‘Emperor’ – Emperor Mandarin Tree

    Citrus reticulata ‘Emperor’ – Emperor Mandarin Tree is expected to grow 30cm to 60cm per year under suitable conditions.

    They are considered to have a:

    • Medium Growth Rate

    Frost Tolerance & Ideal Climate to plant Citrus reticulata ‘Emperor’ – Emperor Mandarin Tree

    Is Citrus reticulata ‘Emperor’ – Emperor Mandarin Tree frost tolerant?

    Citrus reticulata ‘Emperor’ – Emperor Mandarin Tree is Frost Tolerant – Can handle light to moderate frost once established.

    Does Citrus reticulata ‘Emperor’ – Emperor Mandarin Tree Flower?

    Citrus reticulata ‘Emperor’ produces masses of fragrant white flowers through spring and summer, often followed by large easy-peeling sweet mandarins on mature trees. The blooms and glossy evergreen foliage create an attractive ornamental display while supporting reliable fruit production throughout the cooler months.

    Does Citrus reticulata ‘Emperor’ – Emperor Mandarin Tree flower?

    • Yes - Flowers

    Flowering Period:

    • Spring

    Flower Type:

    • Fragrant

    Flower Colour:

    White

    Is Citrus reticulata ‘Emperor’ – Emperor Mandarin Tree an Australian Native Tree?

    No

    Citrus reticulata ‘Emperor’ – Emperor Mandarin Tree is Native to Derived from cultivated mandarin breeding selections originating from Asia.

    What is the Wildlife Value of Citrus reticulata ‘Emperor’ – Emperor Mandarin Tree ?

    Its fragrant flowers attract bees and other beneficial pollinators throughout the flowering season, supporting biodiversity within edible and ornamental gardens. The dense evergreen foliage also provides light shelter and habitat for beneficial insects and small birds year-round.

    How much Sunlight does Citrus reticulata ‘Emperor’ – Emperor Mandarin Tree need?

    Citrus reticulata ‘Emperor’ – Emperor Mandarin Tree will thrive best in:

    • Full Sun

    Preferred Soil?

    Citrus reticulata ‘Emperor’ performs best in rich, well-drained loam or sandy soils with a neutral to slightly acidic pH. It will also tolerate a range of general garden soils provided drainage remains reliable and organic matter is incorporated to support fertility and moisture retention. Avoid heavy clay or persistently wet conditions, as poor drainage can reduce root health and fruiting performance. Keep soil evenly moist during active growth and fruit development for best results.

    Is Citrus reticulata ‘Emperor’ – Emperor Mandarin Tree Drought Tolerant?

    Is Citrus reticulata ‘Emperor’ – Emperor Mandarin Tree Drought tolerant?

    As a young tree it benefits from regular watering to establish a healthy productive root system, particularly during warmer weather. Once established, Emperor Mandarin Trees show moderate drought tolerance but perform best with consistent moisture to support reliable flowering, fruit production and healthy foliage growth.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Q: Is Emperor Mandarin easy to peel?
    A: Yes, the fruit is known for its loose easy-peel skin and sweet flesh.

    Q: Can it be grown in pots?
    A: Yes, it performs reliably in large containers with regular feeding and watering.

    Q: Does it require full sun?
    A: Yes, full sun supports stronger flowering and fruit production.

    Q: When does Emperor Mandarin fruit?
    A: Fruit is typically harvested from autumn through winter.

    Compare sizes side by side

    30cm/33m

    Enquire for current heights

    Heights are approximate and vary between individual trees.

    Citrus reticulata ‘Emperor’ is loved for its Reliable crops of sweet easy-peel mandarins make this variety highly suitable for productive home orchard planting.

    We take pride in supplying A+ grade advanced trees. When stock at our farm is not yet ready, we work with our trusted trade suppliers to source the best available trees for your garden.

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