Citrus - Mandarin 'Emperor'

Common Name:
Emperor Mandarin

Description:
Citrus reticulata 'Emperor', known as the Emperor Mandarin, is a popular Australian cultivar celebrated for its sweet, mild flavour, easy-to-peel skin, and juicy, seedless segments—making it especially appealing for children and fresh eating. Maturing mid to late in the mandarin season, this variety produces medium-sized, slightly flattened fruit with deep orange skin that’s easy to separate from the flesh. In Melbourne’s temperate climate, Emperor performs best in a sunny, sheltered position with well-drained soil and regular watering during fruit development. The tree itself is moderately vigorous and compact in form, with glossy green evergreen foliage and fragrant white blossoms that appear in spring. Emperor Mandarin is ideal for backyard orchards, containers, or espaliering, and it benefits from light pruning and feeding with a citrus-specific fertiliser. It can tolerate light frost and is well-suited to Melbourne gardens with good drainage.

Form:
Tree - Small

Mature Size:
Height: 2.5 – 4 m
Width: 2 – 3 m

Aspect:
Full Sun

Flowering:
Flowers in Spring

Flower Colour:
White

Key Attributes:
Edible Fruit
Suitable for Pots
Bee Attracting
Fragrant Flowers
Perennial
Evergreen
Frost Tolerant (light frost)
Suitable for Espalier
High Yielding
Child-Friendly (easy peel, low seed)

Toxicity:
Non-toxic to humans and animals
Foliage and oils may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals

Companion Plants:
Tagetes spp. (Marigolds)
Lavandula spp.
Thymus vulgaris
Chives or Garlic (pest deterrents)
Calendula officinalis

For more information and photos of this species, Warners Nursery has detailed information available to the public here