Does a Citrus Standard Size Grow Faster Than a Semi-Dwarf?

Rootstock Influence

• A semi-dwarf citrus tree consists of a dwarfing rootstock and a grafted, standard-size citrus scion. The rootstock does not hinder the tree's growth rate but actually helps the semi-dwarf survive in poor or disease-prone soil. In fact, a semi-dwarf citrus tree and a standard-size citrus tree take up to 15 years to mature fully where the trees are hardy, U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. A standard-size tree may appear to grow slower, however, if its roots are waterlogged or nutrient availability is poor. Growth stunting quickly sets in for a standard-size tree while a semi-dwarf thrives with its strong rootstock.

Location

• Plant your standard-size or semi-dwarf citrus tree in a location that receives full sunlight. The best temperature range for either tree's strong growth is 70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Both tree types should have one full spring and summer to establish themselves fully in the ground before cool weather arrives. For example, planting a standard-size tree in late summer causes significant growth stunting in the tree as fall and winter approach if it is compared to the growth of a semi-dwarf citrus tree that was planted in early spring. Allow a building to shield both kinds of trees from wind gusts because the gusts slow growth. If a standard-size citrus tree and a semi-dwarf citrus tree are planted in the same conditions, then, theoretically, they should have identical growth rates overall.

Moisture Availability

• Citrus trees need ample soil moisture to develop foliage, flowers and fruits. Drought causes growth stunting in both standard-size and semi-dwarf trees. Irrigating deeply once each week during spring and summer helps the trees' roots spread horizontally and vertically, promoting strong anchorage and moisture absorption. Water the ground well past each tree's drip line -- the area below the tips of outermost branches -- to irrigate all the roots effectively. Mulch that is spread around a tree conserves soil moisture as well. Avoid piling the mulch around a tree's trunk, however, to prevent bark rot.

Fruiting Maturity

• Both a standard-size and semi-dwarf citrus tree begins producing fruits three to five years after it is established in its location if it receives ample moisture, sunlight and nutrients. It may appear that a standard-size citrus tree grows faster than a semi-dwarf citrus tree because it reaches fruiting at the same time as the semi-dwarf, but both trees have the same growth rates. A standard-size tree, however, eventually produces more fruits than a semi-dwarf simply because it has a larger canopy in which fruits grow.