Satsuma mandarins are easy to peel and usually have few or no seeds. U.S. growing areas include the northern Gulf Coast and parts of California. Satsuma mandarins are also called satsuma tangerines.

Appearance

Growth form
This small evergreen citrus tree usually has spreading, drooping branches and few thorns.
Flowers
White flowers can produce fruit without pollination.
Fruit
The fruit is slightly flattened, with a loose peel and usually zero to a few seeds.

Look-alikes

ClementineCitrus × aurantium deliciosa

Satsumas usually have a looser peel and very few seeds. Clementines can be harder to peel and may have seeds; fruit photos alone can still be inconclusive.

Why they get mixed upBoth are small orange mandarins sold in the United States.

Where it lives

Typical habitats
  • Citrus groves
  • Home orchards
Range
U.S. growing areas include northern Florida, the Gulf Coast into eastern Texas, and California's Central Valley.
Preferred conditions
Mature dormant trees can survive brief lows of about 14–18°F (−10 to −8°C), but fruit and young trees still need frost protection.
Seasons

In Florida

Fruit Sep–Nov

Growing it

Care
In Florida, satsumas ripen early compared with many other citrus fruits.

Conservation

IUCN Red List
NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
15 sources
  1. Kew Citrus × unshiu
  2. 현재 iNaturalist Citrus deliciosa (온주밀감보다 넓음)
  3. 제주농업기술원 노지감귤 숙기
  4. 농촌진흥청 만감류와 온주밀감
  5. 와카야마현 온주밀감 재배 달력
  6. 중국사국농정국 미칸 수확기
  7. 농림수산성 미칸 소개
  8. 농림수산성 감귤 비교
  9. 제주농업기술원 금감 이해
  10. Kew Fortunella japonica 학명 대응
  11. iNaturalist Clementine 학명 확인
  12. UC ANR mandarins comparison
  13. UF IFAS The Satsuma Mandarin
  14. UF IFAS Citrus Culture
  15. Genomic origin of Citrus reticulata “Unshiu”
Satsuma mandarin (Citrus × unshiu) — identification, habitat & look-alikes | Moeyo