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For WA and Tasmania, we send trees on the first Tuesday of each month.

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Fruit in Focus | Cara Cara Blood Navel (also known as Ruby Navel)

February 12, 2020

Cara Cara Blood Orange grows in All Australian Climates very sweet with pink flesh and no veins

Fruit in Focus: Cara Cara Blood Navel

We have so many lovely citrus varieties that you can choose from on our multi-grafted fruit trees; we thought we'd better introduce them all.

Cara Cara Blood Navels are a great addition to your garden and for you with numerous health benefits. The Cara Cara Blood Navel Orange has a deep pink flesh with an irresistible sweet flavour. It is a seedless variety that can grow quite large. Cara Cara oranges are full of beneficial goodness for your body; they contain vitamin A, folate, Lycopene (a powerful antioxidant) and of course Vitamin C. A perfect addition for the home cook; adding gorgeous flavour to your favourite salads, drinks, and relishes; try some juice over your rice or quinoa dishes - yum!

Notes: It is the first of our oranges to ripen.

Fruit characteristics: They are much sweeter and less acidic than most oranges and are absolutely delicious. Grow one today with one of our other many beautiful citrus varieties!

Blossoms: Creamy white

Pollination Information: Cara Cara Blood Navels are self-fertile. However, adding additional orange varieties will increase the size of your crop.

Height: When planted in the ground our multi-grafted citrus Fruit Salad Trees will grow to approximately 2 metres.

Fruiting Season: May - July

Preferred Climate: Subtropical, Warm temperate but will grow in most regions of Australia with proper care.


How to grow Citrus

Cara Cara Blood orange grown on a Fruit Salad Tree

Location: At least 6 hours of full sun (morning sun is best), protected from the wind, and when in a warm climate do not locate your fruit trees too close to fencing that retains heat (eg colorbond). Potted plants do enjoy a daily misting for humidity as will placing a tray with rocks filled with water under the plant as the water evaporates.

Soil: Well drained loamy soil with a pH around 6.0 -7.0. Adding lime to your soil will increase your pH and sulphur will lower it. For more information click here

Fertilisation: Add some old compost or manure to your soil as citrus trees grow well in nitrogen rich soils. You can also consider adding a slow release fertiliser with trace elements (when grown in pots you may need to fertilise more regularly). Always follow the directions on the container.

Pruning: Remember to balance your multi-grafted Fruit Salad citrus tree every 2-3 weeks during the growing phase of Spring and Summer and as the weather cools, once a month for best results!

Frost: At maturity your Fruit Salad Tree will be able to grow in temperatures of -8C. Note: While a Citrus tree is young it is advisable to look at frost preventative measures.

Watering in pots: Keep the soil moist but not wet! If growing in a pot don’t sit it in water - Citrus hate wet feet, but love drained soil, so ensure that there is a chance for good drainage.

Watering in the ground: Over Winter, aim to keep the soil moist, and over Summer, try to give it a good deep water every week or so, depending on your area, so that the water reaches the deeper roots and doesn't pool at the top layers of soil.


Fruit Salad Tree at 3 years old mature tree in ground

More tree care tips

For further tips on growing your multi-grafted Fruit Salad Tree look at balancing your Fruit Salad Tree, planting your tree in a pot, planting your tree in the ground, find out what causes citrus leaves to turn yellow, and what causes citrus leaves to curl.

Check out our comprehensive Pest + Disease Guide for clues on what might be hindering the growth of your Fruit Salad Tree.

Sign up for tree care tips and discounts

Our nursery team prepare current, in depth tree care guides each month, which give you the information you need to care for your Fruit Salad Tree as the seasons change. By signing up, you'll also receive our VIP specials. Sign up here, and unsubscribe at any time.

Fruit Salad Trees make perfectly different gifts!

Fruit Salad Trees are packed and shipped in Australia in specially designed boxes

Our gift cards are emailed instantly, so give the gift that keeps on giving! Let them choose the fruit to grow on their tree, and we'll deliver to their doorstep, Australia wide. If you'd like to surprise them with a Fruit Salad Tree, choosing the fruit can be difficult, so here's our guide to choosing the different fruit for your loved one to grow!

You can also shop our wide range of trees now and check out our current specials here!

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