Photo by Tonya Weeks, UF/IFAS
Citrus trees used to be a common site around Florida homes, but diseases like canker and greening have diminished residents’ ability to enjoy these iconic trees. Despite the challenges, people from Florida and across the country contact citrus nurseries this time of year, seeking to purchase trees for their yards and/or homes.
It’s a passion, say nursery owners and University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) citrus breeders.
Nate Jameson, co-owner of Brite Leaf Citrus Nursery, said Sugar Belle and Gator Bites are among the most requested varieties in Florida now. Meyer Lemon and Key Lime remain popular around the country.
Customers who buy from Brite Leaf are savvy. “Most of them understand about citrus greening,” Jameson said. “We have people request UF/IFAS rootstocks. They still want a tree that ensures they get the most out of their purchase.”
Brite Leaf gets many calls for finger limes, especially UF RedLime and UF SunLime.
“You have a group of people that are interested in new things,” Jameson said. “The hot topic is finger limes. They’re being used in restaurants and cruise lines — as a garnish, in salads. People go out and eat and, all of a sudden, they want a finger lime tree.”
None of this surprises Fred Gmitter, a professor of breeding and genetics at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center. Among his many cultivars, Gmitter developed Sugar Belle in 2008. It’s a mandarin that can be grown as a dooryard variety.
“It’s important for our nurseries to keep the businesses going,” said Gmitter, who has been breeding citrus for more than 40 years. “Nurseries like Brite Leaf are selling all over the country. There are a lot of people who would like to grow a little citrus in their yards. People in Tennessee and Idaho are buying this citrus. They want to plant unusual trees. They’re hobbyists.”
Gmitter and fellow UF/IFAS citrus breeder Jude Grosser develop citrus trees largely to help keep Florida’s citrus industry going. They provide rootstocks to growers interested in new varieties as well as nurseries so that anyone can grow and enjoy citrus from their home-grown trees.
UF/IFAS offers numerous tips for successfully planting and maintaining residential citrus trees.
Source: UF/IFAS
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