Growing Citrus in Perth

Lemons, limes, oranges, and mandarins for Perth's Mediterranean climate

Perth's climate is excellent for citrus. Warm, dry summers and mild winters mirror the conditions where citrus trees evolved in Southeast Asia and were perfected in Mediterranean orchards. The sandy, well-drained soil that causes headaches for vegetable growers is actually an advantage for citrus, which hates wet feet. A healthy citrus tree in a Perth garden will produce fruit for decades.

Best Citrus Varieties for Perth

Lemons

• Eureka: The classic backyard lemon. Fruits almost year-round in Perth, with the heaviest crop from winter through spring. Grows 3-4 metres tall unpruned. Thorny but productive.
• Meyer: Sweeter and less acidic than Eureka. Smaller tree (2-3 metres), making it suited to compact gardens and large pots. Thin-skinned fruit with orange-tinted flesh. Fruits winter through spring.
• Lisbon: Similar to Eureka but slightly more cold-tolerant. Good choice for Perth Hills and foothills suburbs like Kalamunda and Mundaring where winter nights are cooler.

Limes

• Tahitian (Bearss): The standard lime for Perth. Seedless, juicy, and productive. Fruits from late summer through winter. Slightly more frost-sensitive than lemons, so coastal and inner suburbs are best. Perth Hills growers should plant in a sheltered, north-facing spot.
• Kaffir (Makrut): Grown primarily for its aromatic leaves used in Thai and Southeast Asian cooking. The fruit is bumpy and sour. Compact tree that does well in pots. Available at most Perth nurseries including Dawson's and Zanthorrea.

Oranges

• Washington Navel: The eating orange. Sweet, seedless, and easy to peel. Fruits from June to September. Grows 3-4 metres tall. Perth's warm summers develop excellent sugar levels in the fruit.
• Valencia: The juicing orange. Fruits later (September to January), so plant both Navel and Valencia for year-round oranges. Slightly smaller tree than Navel.

Mandarins

• Imperial: Australia's favourite mandarin. Easy to peel, sweet, with few seeds. Fruits from May to July. Compact tree (2-3 metres), excellent for smaller gardens.
• Afourer: Deep orange, very sweet, and virtually seedless. Fruits later (July to September). A premium variety increasingly available at Perth nurseries.

Other Citrus Worth Growing

• Cumquat (Nagami): Ornamental and edible. Small oval fruit eaten whole, skin and all. Makes excellent marmalade. Compact tree (1.5-2 metres) suited to pots and small gardens.
• Finger lime: Native Australian citrus with caviar-like pulp. Grows well in Perth's climate. Available from specialist nurseries. Thorny shrub growing 2-3 metres tall.

Planting Citrus in Perth

Plant citrus in autumn (April to May) or spring (September to October). Autumn planting is slightly better in Perth because the roots establish during the mild, wet winter before facing summer heat.

Site Selection

Full sun (6 or more hours per day) and shelter from strong winds. Perth's afternoon sea breeze can be harsh in coastal suburbs like Scarborough and Cottesloe. A fence, wall, or hedge on the western side provides useful wind protection.

Soil Preparation

Perth's sandy soil drains well, which citrus trees appreciate. The problem is nutrient retention. Dig a hole twice the width of the root ball and mix the backfill sand with generous compost and aged cow manure. Add a handful of dolomite lime if your sand is very acidic (Bassendean sand often is). Do not add bentonite clay around citrus; they prefer free-draining conditions.

Mound the soil slightly above the surrounding ground level. The graft union (the bulge on the trunk near the base) must sit above soil level. Burying the graft can cause rootstock suckering and disease.

Container Growing

Dwarf citrus varieties (Dwarf Meyer Lemon, Dwarf Tahitian Lime, Dwarf Washington Navel) grow well in large pots. Use a container at least 50 centimetres in diameter with good drainage holes. Fill with premium potting mix (look for the Australian Standards red tick on the bag). Potted citrus needs more frequent watering and feeding than in-ground trees.

Feeding Citrus in Perth

Citrus are heavy feeders, and Perth's sandy soil loses nutrients quickly. Feed four times a year:

• Late winter (August): Apply a complete citrus fertiliser. This fuels the spring flowering flush. Brands like Richgro Citrus Food, Yates Thrive Citrus, and Baileys Citrus Fertiliser are all widely available in Perth.
• Spring (October): A second application supports fruit set and new growth. Add chelated iron and trace elements if leaves show yellowing between the veins.
• Summer (January): Light feed to sustain fruit development. Supplement with liquid seaweed and fish emulsion.
• Autumn (April): Final feed before the tree slows down for winter. Include potash (potassium) to harden new growth and improve fruit quality.

Trace element deficiency is common in Perth's alkaline sandy soils. Iron, manganese, and zinc are the usual culprits. Yellowing leaves with green veins indicate iron deficiency. Apply chelated trace elements as a foliar spray or soil drench twice a year (spring and autumn).

Watering Citrus in Perth

Established citrus trees are surprisingly drought-tolerant once their root system is developed (usually after 2-3 years). Young trees need regular watering during their first two summers.

• First year: Water deeply twice a week during summer. Build a watering basin around the tree to concentrate water at the root zone.
• Second year: Water deeply once a week during summer.
• Established trees: A deep soaking every 2-3 weeks during summer is usually sufficient. Perth's winter rain covers the tree's needs from May to September.

Mulch around the tree with a 10-centimetre layer of sugar cane mulch or wood chips. Keep mulch 15 centimetres away from the trunk to prevent collar rot.

Pests and Problems

Citrus Gall Wasp

Citrus gall wasp is established in Perth and causes swollen lumps on branches. Prune out galls before August (when adult wasps emerge). Burn or bin the prunings; do not compost them. Heavy infestations weaken the tree and reduce fruiting.

Scale and Sooty Mould

Scale insects suck sap and excrete honeydew, which attracts black sooty mould. Spray with horticultural oil (PestOil or Eco-Oil) in spring and autumn, covering all leaf surfaces. The oil smothers scale insects and the sooty mould clears as the scale dies off.

Mediterranean Fruit Fly

Medfly attacks ripening citrus from late autumn through winter. Exclusion netting over small trees is effective. For larger trees, hang Cera Trap or protein bait traps from branches. Pick fruit as it ripens rather than leaving it on the tree.

Twenty-Eight Parrots

These WA-native parrots peck holes in ripening citrus, especially oranges and mandarins. Bird netting is the only reliable protection. Use 40-millimetre or smaller mesh and ensure the netting is taut to prevent birds becoming entangled.

Frequently Asked Questions