Okitsu Wase Mandarin Citrus Tree
A delicious and early ripening satsuma from Japan, Okitsu Wase is a frequent winner of citrus taste test competitions. The thin skin is very easy to peel and the flesh is juicy and aromatic with few seeds. Incredibly early ripening (Wase means early in Japanese, so anytime you see that you can be sure it’s a good fit for short growing seasons). Thought to be one of the more cold hardy of satsuma trees but we are still trialing it outdoors here in our USDA Zone 8b. Stay tuned!
Click here to view our Citrus Growing Guide.
Latin Name: Citrus unshiu
Site and Soil: Can be grown outdoors in regions with mild winters. It likes 1/2 day to full sun and well drained soil. If growing it in a pot, in the winter place your plant in a well-lit room. Potting soil should be coarse, acidic, and well-drained.
Rootstock Description: Flying Dragon is a hardy and very dwarfing rootstock for Citrus that induces very early flowering and fruit production. Trees grown on Flying Dragon will rarely exceed 5 ft. in height and will often produce fruit the year they are planted.
Pollination Requirements: Self-fertile. You can help it set fruit by taking a small brush and moving pollen from flower to flower.
Hardiness: Hardy to at least 20° F and has reportedly survived temperatures even lower than that. Definitely worth trying in Zone 8!
Bearing Age: 1-2 years after planting
Size at Maturity: 4-6 ft.
Taste: Sweet, juicy, aromatic
Fruit Skin: Orange
Fruit Flesh: Orange
Bloom Time: Spring
Ripening Time: Late fall to winter.
Yield: 30+ lbs.
Care: Fertilize with citrus mix 3-4 times per year with typical applications in late winter (Jan-Feb), late spring (May-June) and early fall (Sept-Oct).
Pests & Diseases: While outside, Citrus plants will likely not be bothered by insect pests. Be on the lookout for slugs. Indoors, Citrus can have mites, scales and/or aphids. Watch carefully for any problems and treat with an insecticidal soap or wash them off. We have not seen any disease problems on our Citrus plants.
USDA Zone: 8b