When Does the Owari Satsuma Flower?

Blooming

• Named after a province in Japan, the "Owari" variety is an evergreen tree that reaches 7 to 10 feet tall at maturity and tends to spread its branches, which can droop when laden with fruit. The tree has highly aromatic, white flowers that appear in early spring, filling the air with fragrance that attracts bees and hummingbirds. The "Owari" tree is self-fertile and doesn't need a second tree for pollination. Because its flowers don't produce pollen needed for seed production, its fruits are mostly seedless, but quite sweet and flavorful. Fruits are also thin-skinned, ripen in early- to mid-fall and keep well after picking, provided they're handled carefully and not bruised.

Promoting Flowers

• The "Owari" Satsuma tree needs only basic care to support good flower production and heavy fruiting. It does well in a spot that gets full sun, but in areas with hot sun, locating it where it gets full sun in the morning, followed by light, shifting shade in the afternoon can prevent scorching of flowers that could interrupt fruit development. The tree grows in any type of garden soil, provided it's well-drained. If your soil contains clay and tends to hold water, adding some sand at planting can improve drainage. A relatively drought-tolerant tree, watering it well during the first season or two can promote a deep root system that helps support heavy production of flowers and fruit.

Cold Tolerance

• Because the "Owari" Satsuma tree blooms in early spring, a late frost in a area susceptible to cold spells in spring can damage flower buds and interfere with fruit production. If your area is in the colder portion of its range, planting the tree near a warm, west- or south-facing building wall can help protect it from spring cold spells. You could also locate the tree on a hillside, where cold spring air drains away to the lower part of the slope.

Container Growing

• The "Owari" Satsuma tree is relatively small and can do well grown in a container, as a patio specimen or in any brightly lit, outdoor location. In cold-winter areas below USDA zone 8, you can move the tree indoors in fall before the first frost, over-wintering it in a brightly lit spot, such as near a west- or south-facing window. In spring, wait until all danger of frost has passed before moving the tree outdoors. You can control the size of the "Owari" Satsuma tree by pruning it in winter, when it's dormant, cutting branches back by about one-third. Make slanted cuts just ahead of an outward-facing bud to help the tree spread well.