Moro Blood Orange Tree
Citrus sinensis 'Moro'
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Plant Sentry™
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Your order is protected by our compliance system that:
- Prevents restricted plants from shipping to your state
- Ensures plants meet your state's agricultural requirements
- Protects gardens from invasive pests and diseases
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Fast, Safe Plant Delivery
Ships in 3-4 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected
| Under $50 | $9.99 |
| $50 - $99.99 | $14.99 |
| $100 - $149.99 | $16.99 |
| $150 - $198.99 | $24.99 |
| $199+ | FREE |
✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee
Understanding Plant Options
Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:
- Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
- Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements
Container Plant Sizes
Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.
Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2" x 2" x 3" | 0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts | 0.20 - 0.23 dry liters |
| 4" Container | 0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts | 0.35 - 0.96 dry liters |
| 4.5" Container | 0.65 dry quarts | 0.72 dry liters |
| 6" Container | 1.4 dry quarts | 1.59 dry liters |
| 1 Quart | 1 dry quart | 1.1 dry liters |
| 5.5" Container | 1.89 dry quarts | 2.08 dry liters |
Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Quart | 2 dry quarts | 2.2 dry liters |
| #1 Container | 2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts | 2.49 - 4.11 dry liters |
| 5" x 5" x 12" | 3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts | 3.85 - 4.74 dry liters |
Mature Plants (2-4 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #2 Container | 1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons | 5.24 - 7.75 dry liters |
| #3 Container | 2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons | 8.14 - 12.16 dry liters |
Large Plants (3-5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #5 Container | 2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons | 12.86 - 20.35 dry liters |
| #6 Container | 5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons | 23.12 - 26.42 dry liters |
| #7 Container | 5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons | 26.34 - 28.76 dry liters |
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.
Common Sizes:
- Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
- Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet
Important Notes
Container Volume Specifications
- Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
- Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
- Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents
Growing Conditions
- Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
- Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
- Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment
Seasonal Availability
- Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
- Container plants are available throughout the growing season
- Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes
Questions?
For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.
Plant Sentry™ Protected
Your order is protected by our compliance system that:
- Prevents restricted plants from shipping to your state
- Ensures plants meet your state's agricultural requirements
- Protects gardens from invasive pests and diseases
Plant Profile & Growing Essentials
Evergreen, Flowering, Fragrant, Edible, Self-pollinating, Ornamental Berries/Fruit, Heat Tolerant, and Container Friendly
Specifications
Specifications
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Botanical Name
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Height
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Width
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Growing Zones
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Sunlight
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Growth RateModerate
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Flower Color
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Leaf Color
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Pollinator FriendlyYes
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Pollinator Required
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Bloom PeriodLate Spring
Planting & Care Instructions
Planting & Care Instructions
Growing Zones 8-11 (patio 4-11)
As the #1 variety of Blood Orange grown in the United States, the Moro Blood Orange Tree (Citrus sinensis 'Moro') is a true standout! It features dependable, deep red coloring that is achieved in USDA zones 8 - 11. This is superior to other Blood Orange varieties that only produce deep red flesh in perfect conditions.
The fragrant white blossoms are divinely scented and the glossy evergreen leaves make this a fantastic tree all year round! An Italian Orange, Moro has a rich, tropical flavor and deep red flesh. The red-colored flesh will continue to deepen when kept cold in storage where it will hold for about 3 weeks ready to eat. Quite ornamental, its peel is usually blushed with a beautiful burgundy color.
Vivid Moro offers a delicious, almost tropical experience! Very high Vitamin C, potassium and carotene content, its flavor has a hint of raspberry with tropical overtones and is a bit sweeter than others. When the fruit matures, the flesh is deep red and usually seedless. The fruit hangs for a long time and continues to get deeper in color!
Planting and Application:
Moro Blood Orange is used in a variety of different ways from marmalades to gelatos and sorbets. Include some slices in your morning smoothie for a healthy blast of flavor and color. It's great in salads and sliced on a cheese platter. Of course, fresh off the tree is also popular! There is nothing better than homegrown fruit!
Outdoors, Moro are beautiful accents and specimen trees. Keep potted on a porch or patio during warm weather, then move your tree indoors and place it in a sunroom or well-lit, protected patio for the winter. If inside, place it near a sunny window, and you may need to provide extra artificial lighting to support the ripening fruit.
- Very Healthy Dark Red Fruit
- Dependable Blood-Red Flesh
- Deeply Pigmented Flesh
- Sweet & Juicy
- Mid-Season & Long Hang Time
#ProPlantTips for Care:
Oranges need full sun locations with good air circulation, favoring the morning sun. Plant in well-drained soil that's moderately moist and on the acidic side, allowing the roots to dry out slightly between waterings. Grow all Citrus on the dry side, ensuring that container plants have several drainage holes and a loose, acidic soil mixture. Add a layer of mulch over the root system.
Protecting Container Citrus From Cold
If you're growing these tropical trees in the ground in USDA zones 8, they need to be planted in a sheltered spot to avoid the worst of the chill. If a spot like that is unavailable, then you are better off planting in a large, deep container, likewise, for USDA zones 7 and under, plan on bringing your tree indoors for the winter. A rolling plant pot will help with moving your tree around and you can prune these trees to any size to keep them manageable.
In borderline growing zones, begin slowly acclimating your tree indoors or into a protected location, eventually moving your tree inside in bright indirect sun for the winter if the temperatures in your area ever dip below that 40F range. In spring, reverse this process and begin acclimating your tree to again be back out in the full sun all summer. This reduces stress and leaf drop.
Like all of our Citrus, these trees are a minimum of three years old, have extensive branching, and have some of the largest root systems available. We take pride in delivering you the highest quality Citrus Trees with healthy roots and full, well-established stems and foliage.
You'll want to plan to repot them every 3 to 4 years. Always shift to the next size container and avoid going too much larger than the current pot size.
- Full Sun
- Well-Drained Acidic Soil
- Low Moisture & Regular Fertilizer
- Prune After Fruiting
- See Our Blog for Citrus Tree Care
If you are a foodie, you'll want to add the productive and dramatic colored Moro Blood Orange tree to your collection! Order yours at NatureHills.com today!
Deep Red Color, Delicious Flavor
First discovered as a sport of the Sanguinello Blood orange in Sicily, Italy in the mid-20th Century, the Moro is one of the newest of the popular Blood Oranges varieties.
The perception of less flavor was shaken off due to the dependable dark red color of the flesh, which made it an immediate novelty hit. However, in no time the wonderful flavor of the Moro was acknowledged by growers and consumers alike.
Citrus sinensis 'Moro' is unlike most of the other popular varieties of Blood Oranges originated in Sicily, Italy and is considered an Italian Blood Orange. The Sanguinello and Torroco are both varieties from Spain.
The name Moro comes from the Moorish culture, which in the 8th century, dominated the Mediterranean region. The word was used to describe dark-skinned people of Africa. In time, it became a word common to anything with dark pigment.
Though once thought to be of lesser quality than the most popular Blood Oranges, today the Moro is the third most common citrus sold in Europe based on the rich tropical flavor, the deep red flesh, along with the wide range of adaptability.
The immediate success of the Moro in California is due to the fact that it ripens much earlier than the Sanguinello or Torroco. Moro is a January ripening fruit, putting it at least a month sooner to ripen than the other varieties. Moro would color where other Blood Oranges would not, such as in the southern coastal areas of the United States.
The Moro develops deep rich red in ideal conditions, but still shows a decent red color and develops its great flavor in less than ideal conditions. This is a positive trait, unlike how the other two popular selections display.
The Moro became a big hit with the retail nurseries, and they were fast to offer this exciting new citrus variety based on those virtues. In time, in California, the Moro became the #1 Blood Orange recommended.
As the health-conscious consumer movement took hold, the high antioxidant content that came by way of the dark red pigmentation - called anthocyanins - began to be promoted. The Moro, like any citrus, was rich in Vitamin C, potassium and folate, all important to good health.
Today, Moro Blood Oranges can be found in everything from jams and jellies to IPA beers. Moro is noted for its wide range of adaptations and is a popular variety for Home Growers and Farmer's Market growers.
