Satsuma?

My cara cara tree was an accidental purchase. I bought it thinking it was a Washington navel tree, but then when it dropped one of the oranges, and I cut it open, I was confused by the red flesh! I started thinking maybe it was a grapefruit because they were a bit on the larger side but the taste was very sweet, berryish and seedless. Soon I discovered it was a cara cara tree, and I have never been happier to have received the wrong item! Whatever it is, enjoy!

Now I am confused again! My leaves have the 'grapefruit fin'. Doesn't that say definitely not an orange? And Oro Blanco grapefruit are suppose to be sweet tasting since they are a hybrid. Please help me decide finally!

I want to say a tangelo, but there's no "nub"

OK, I did some googling and found out it is POSSIBLE for some oranges to have that "fin"

I thought it was an orange tree when I purchased it years ago…it just didn't bear any fruit for years. I forgot what it was and lost the plant label! I'm just thrilled to enjoy citrus up north. It makes winter indoor gardening so fun. Isn't September early for any citrus fruit to mature? It bloomed in late January.

If you keep it indoors its possible for them to get confused about what time of year it is. The nursery trees sometimes have fruit at really wierd times from being in a greenhouse. I don't know what it is, but it doesn't look like a grapefruit to me. I'm not aware of a grapefruit with that color scheme. You pick them while green like that and they taste mostly like acid. Also, you found the fruit in June and it was ripe by september. I thought I read that grapefruit takes a little bit longer than that to mature, like at least 6 months or something.

I was hoping for an orange tree. The fruit actually formed in the winter, indoors. I really appreciate everyone's opinions.

Looks more like an orange in the cut fruit. Aren't grapefruit rinds thicker?

But flavor should be obvious - whether orange or grapefruit!

Some oranges have winged petioles. Usually grapefruit's are more pronounced, although they vary. Oroblanco's leaves have very pronounced winged petioles.

When I tasted it, I thought it was a grape fruit. I will have to have someone else taste it. I think the rind is very thin for a grapefruit too. Thanks for the great clues!

Just finished a 'taste test' with relatives! One person thought it was an orange, while another said it tasted like both an orange and grapefruit! So maybe it is a cross between an orange and grapefruit. They both thought it was delicious! So what ever it is…it is enjoyable!

I am betting it's an underripe orange, which may be why some people think it's grapefruit based on the taste. Whatever it is, glad it's good!

Update: The fruit has continued to 'round out' from the oblong shape it had earlier. There is a faint orange coloring. I am finally convinced that I have some variety of sweet orange tree because even premature fruit has a pleasant taste…. I suppose my oranges will ripen in winter. I'm so enthused that I just ordered a cara cara orange to accompany my present one! And I live up north! Thank you all for your help!

You're going to love the cara cara. Mine were so juicy and full of flavor, nothing like the store bought ones. It was my new favorite until I tasted some minneolas. Talk about juicy and tangy/sweet!

I ordered a cara cara after I read your post! Maybe a minneola will be next, I am officially addicted to citrus.

Haha, if you're anything like me, you'll soon have quite a collection. I have around 16 trees now, and have my sights on a couple more.

Satsuma..

it doesnt have a nub, so an orange probably

So what is it? Oro Blanco?

Could be cocktail grapefruit?

Hmmmmm

It's still up for debate, I thought it was a grapefruit, but most people said it would not be sweet at this stage. Do citrus ripen in November & December? And the rind is thin. I am patiently waiting to see how orange the fruit will turn. A cocktail grapefruit is a good guess! thanks

Not all of them. My Washington Navel doesn't sweeten up until around February. It's orange colored in Nov-Dec, but still sour.

My guess is some sort of seedless orange or satsuma. Cocktail grapefruit tends to be very seedy.

It will be a thrill to harvest my fruit indoors during the height of the northern winter.

Definitely not a satsuma. My bet is cocktail grapefruit. The flesh color shown and sweetness described is just like my cocktails...

Hmmm, as LizinTx said, Cocktails tend to be very seedy - all of mine are. I have to withdraw the Cocktail guess and move to a seedless orange choice - (assuming it continues and does turn orange).

Keep us posted as how the color and flavor develops over the next 2-3 months.... if it turns or stays yellow then it in the grapefruit family. All of my grapefruits go from green to yellow.... and the Red Blush when very ripe, to pink. ....but most all of them have seeds.

Well, it is December and the fruit continues to ripen. It looks 'orangey' to me! Now does it appear to be an orange or cocktail grapefruit? Thanks!

Those are amazing! Looks definitely orangey to me but I will defer to the experts.

Are you in Canada if so your tree is especially inspiring! I'm in Sask and my trees are about two years away from that size.

I'm in Ohio. ..which I find equally amazing,Thanks! I wonder how I will determine when they are fully ripe? Do indoor oranges( or whatever) turn solid orange when ripe or is ripeness based upon tenderness?

More like find out what it is, how long that variety takes, and start counting from fruit set. Then taste test.

so educated guess, because your indoors and don't have a climate you can base off of in reference to others trees.

I too live in Ohio and I have found that mystery trees fall in one of 3 catagories.

1) Trees that produce fruits of great taste.

2) Trees that produce fruits of Yea it was free and home grown and edible.

3) Trees that produce fruit that suggest the tree should be killed or top grafted.

if you end up with excellent fruit then you have a good tree that is a keeper. There is a probability that no one will be able to identify it to a specific variety

Best of luck and remember Ohio is round on the ends an hi in the center.

One of the best places in the nation! Well, I'm lucky…the premature fruit actually tasted good! I'm almost sure that it is some kind of orange. Will know shortly!

In that 2nd to last photo it is starting to look extremely orange-like, will be following this post for the big reveal lol.

Jan. pics are showing even more orange coloring! What is the best way to determine when the fruit is ready for picking?

Outside on the deck during the very mild December weather!

Finally! I heard a loud 'thud' last night and discovered a ripen fruit had fallen! I will serve it later at dinner to survey what it is for the last time.But before we taste-test, what do you think it is?

Delicious definitely delicious. Hands down

Looks like an orange! Is there a navel on the bottom?

Post a pic when you cut it. If you cut it across horizontal to the top and bottom, ID will be easier I think.

Congrats!!

Drum roll please…(clearing throat as the trumpets blare) Ladies and gentlemen, I hereby proclaim that my mysterious tree is a seedless grapefruit! The scent, texture and juiciness all point to this conclusion! Another fruit fell off the tree last night. I ate one half for breakfast! (Such a thrill since it is 2 below zero outside! A touch of Florida, indeed! ) Now, can anyone guess which variety of seedless grapefruit?

"Such a thrill since it is 2 below zero outside"

Where about do you live. My coldest this year around 10F do to my micro zone position

Akron, OH…It can get brutal here!

That's very interesting! I admit I was leaning towards grapefruit based on how the skin looks in that photo of it in your hand (looked more like grapefruit than an orange to me, but then again I eat a disproportionate amount of grapefruit....) so congrats! As to the variety, could be a lot of it being seedless hopefully narrows it down. It might be a Thompson Pink (which ironically isn't usually pink) or a Marsh Seedless?

I'll research those varieties you mentioned. I could not believe how delicious and juicy my grapefruit was chilled! It was sweet with a hint of tang! Amazingly good.

I have read about certain 'orangelo' hybrids( orange & grapefruit crosses)

Chironja Grapefruit Hybrid comes to mind…perhaps my tree could be one.

Update: I repotted my tree in a slightly larger pot. I didn't think it would bloom this year until today I spotted 3 small buds today! The tree does have scale…Is it safe to spray neem oil while the tree is flowering? What should I do?

(Please ignore the watermelon sculpture!) So excited to see flower buds.

That fruit sure looks like the Melogold grapefruit hybrid...

www.citrusvariety.ucr.edu/citrus/melogold.html

I'd say they are an exact match! Thank you …mystery finally solved! Any advice on dealing with scale insects during the blooming period?

That's a very cool looking tree with the orange fruit hanging... Nice surprise being a Melogold too, I can't see too many people having that variety.

i want a cara cara now.

First time I tasted a Cara Cara, I didn't know what it was; but I knew I had to have it. Now I grow a few each year for gifts; and they usually make a few fruits the first year.