Washington Navel Orange Tree - Grafted

Washington Navel is one of the most popular sweet oranges in the world, loved for its large, seedless fruit, easy-peel skin, and rich, classic orange flavour. It’s a fantastic backyard citrus for Brisbane and SEQ—ideal for fresh eating, juicing, and family fruit bowls—performing best in full sun with well-drained soil and regular feeding.

Quick Overview:

• Common Name: Washington Navel Orange
• Botanical Name: Citrus sinensis ‘Washington Navel’
• Origin: Old, internationally grown navel orange variety widely planted for home gardens and orchards
• Height & Width: Typically 3–5 m high × 3–4 m wide in the ground (can be kept smaller with pruning; size depends on rootstock)
• Foliage: Glossy evergreen leaves; dense, attractive canopy year-round
• Flowers: Fragrant white blossoms in spring
• Wildlife Attraction: Flowers attract bees and other pollinators
• Fruit: Large, seedless orange with a distinctive “navel” at the blossom end; sweet, juicy flesh; excellent for fresh eating and juicing
• Position: Full sun for best flowering, sweetness, and fruit colour
• Soil: Well-drained soil is essential; mound or raise the planting area if you have clay or slow drainage
• Tolerance: Heat tolerant once established; protect young trees from frost, waterlogging, and strong drying winds
• Maintenance: Moderate; best results with regular citrus feeding and consistent watering during fruit swell
• Propagation: Grafted 
• Etymology: Citrus is the classical Latin name used for citrus trees; sinensis means “from China,” referring to the species’ historic association with Chinese origin

Detailed Description:

Washington Navel Orange is the “go-to” backyard orange for sweet, seedless fruit you can eat straight from the tree. The large fruit has a thickish rind that peels more easily than many other oranges, and the signature navel at the base is actually a second, undeveloped orange inside—one of the reasons navels are typically seedless.

In Brisbane and SEQ gardens, Washington Navel thrives with full sun, free-draining soil, and steady moisture through flowering and fruit growth. Consistent watering helps reduce fruit drop and improves juiciness, while feeding through the warmer months supports strong growth and better yields. Harvest when fruit is fully coloured and tastes sweet—navels are best eaten fresh and are less suited to hanging for long periods compared to some other citrus types.

Growth and Maintenance:

• Watering: Deep water to establish; once established, water during extended dry periods and consistently during flowering/fruiting for better fruit size and juiciness
• Fertilising: Feed with a quality citrus fertiliser during active growth; add trace elements if foliage shows pale/yellowing symptoms
• Mulching: Maintain a 5 cm organic mulch layer to conserve moisture and protect shallow feeder roots (keep mulch away from the trunk)
• Fruit quality tip: For best sweetness, keep the tree in full sun and avoid allowing it to dry out repeatedly during fruit swell
• Graft care: Remove any shoots growing from below the graft (rootstock suckers)

Pruning:

• Shape & airflow: Lightly prune after harvest to keep the canopy open and reduce pest/disease pressure
• Size control: Tip-prune to maintain a manageable backyard height and improve picking access
• Clean-up: Remove dead, crossing, or inward-growing branches; avoid heavy pruning right before flowering

Common Uses:

• Backyard fruit tree for Brisbane and SEQ homes
• Fresh eating and lunchbox orange segments
• Juicing, marmalade, and desserts
• Feature tree near entertaining areas (spring blossom scent is a bonus)
• Espalier along a sunny fence or wall to save space

Planting Benefits:

• Seedless Fruit: A true family favourite with minimal seeds
• Classic Sweet Orange Flavour: Excellent for fresh eating and juicing
• High Productivity: Strong yields with sun, feeding, and good watering
• Fragrant Blossom: Spring flowers add perfume and support pollinators before fruit sets