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Citrus x sinensis ‘Cara Cara’ (Navel Orange)

Cara Cara Orange, Navel Orange, Cara Cara Navel Orange, Red Fleshed Navel Orange

Citrus sinensis 'Cara Cara', Navel Orange, Cara Cara Navel Orange, Red Fleshed Navel Orange

Cara Cara Orange: A Vibrant Twist on Classic Oranges

Citrus × sinensis ‘Cara Cara’, commonly known as the Cara Cara orange, is a stunning and delicious variety of navel orange. What sets it apart is its vivid pink-red flesh, a result of natural lycopene pigmentation. Discovered in Venezuela in 1976, this sweet, seedless fruit quickly became a favorite for its berry-like flavor and impressive nutritional profile. Perfect for eating fresh or juicing, Cara Cara oranges are a visual and culinary delight that bring color and flavor to any citrus lover’s garden or table.

Oranges belong to the citrus family Rutaceae, which includes other popular citrus fruits such as grapefruit, lemon, pomelo, clementine, mandarin, tangerine, calamansi, kumquat, Kaffir lime, Persian lime, and Key lime.

What is a Cara Cara Orange?

Description

This medium-sized fruit looks like a typical orange on the outside, with a bright, smooth rind. Inside, it reveals beautifully pigmented salmon-pink to crimson flesh. The fruit is seedless, juicy, and exceptionally sweet with a subtle tang and flavor notes reminiscent of cherry, rose, and blackberry.

Native Range

The Cara Cara orange was first found as a spontaneous mutation on a Washington navel orange tree in Venezuela. It is now widely cultivated in California and other citrus-growing regions worldwide.

Growth Habit

This evergreen tree grows in a rounded, upright shape with glossy, dark green leaves and sweet-smelling white blossoms. It’s a beautiful and productive addition to gardens or patios.

Size

A mature Cara Cara orange tree typically reaches 15–20 feet tall and 10–15 feet wide on the ground, with the potential to grow larger in ideal conditions. Container-grown trees will be smaller, often 6–8 feet (1.8–2.4 meters) tall and wide, depending on pruning and pot size.

Flowers

Fragrant white flowers bloom in spring and attract pollinators such as bees. These star-shaped blossoms are ornamental and signal fruiting to come.

Blooming Season

Cara Cara trees bloom in spring, and fruits are typically harvested between December and February, depending on the region.

Fruits

The fruit is round to slightly oval, with bright orange skin and pink-red flesh. It’s seedless, juicy, and sweet with low acidity. Cara Cara is prized for its complex flavor and vibrant color, making it a standout in salads, juices, and desserts.

Leaves

Glossy, evergreen, lance-shaped leaves create a lush canopy and give off a faint citrus scent when crushed.

Hardiness

USDA zones 9–11. Cara Cara oranges are moderately cold-tolerant but need protection from hard frost. In cooler climates, they perform well in large containers moved indoors in winter.

Uses

  • Fresh Eating: Enjoy as a snack or fruit salad ingredient.
  • Juicing: Makes vivid pink-orange juice with a refreshing flavor.
  • Cooking: Use in glazes, vinaigrettes, desserts, and marmalades.
  • Garnishing: Adds color and taste to cocktails and dishes.
  • Ornamental: A beautiful fruiting tree with visual appeal year-round.

Toxicity

While the fruit is edible, essential oils in the skin and leaves (limonene, linalool) can cause contact dermatitis or mild poisoning in humans and are toxic to cats, dogs, and horses. The fruit itself is safe for humans, but the plant should be kept away from pets.


Cara Cara Orange Nutrition

Nutrient Amount (per 100g) % Daily Value
Calories 47–52 kcal 2%
Carbohydrates 12–13 g 4%
Vitamin C 68–135 mg 75–150%
Fiber 2.4–3 g 9–11%
Potassium 174–260 mg 5–6%
Vitamin A 225 IU 4%
Folate (B9) 30–40 mcg 8–10%
Lycopene 2,500–5,000 µg

DV = Daily Value based on a 2,000-calorie diet.


Health Benefits of Cara Cara Oranges

Cara Cara oranges are a nutritional powerhouse packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and natural sweetness. Their vibrant pink-red flesh comes from lycopene, a rare antioxidant in citrus that adds extra health benefits to every juicy bite.

Benefit How It Helps
Boosts Immunity High in vitamin C, Cara Cara oranges help fortify immune function and reduce the duration of colds.
Supports Heart Health Fiber and potassium help maintain blood pressure and heart rhythm, while antioxidants reduce inflammation.
Protects Skin Vitamin C boosts collagen production and protects skin from oxidative damage and early aging.
Enhances Eye Health Vitamin A and carotenoids like lycopene support vision and reduce the risk of age-related eye issues.
Improves Digestion Soluble fiber promotes healthy gut flora and smooth digestion.
Boosts Iron Absorption Vitamin C increases iron uptake from plant-based foods, helping prevent anemia.
Reduces Inflammation Lycopene, hesperidin, and naringenin offer anti-inflammatory and antioxidant protection.

Why Grow an Orange Tree?

  • Fresh, Organic Fruit: Homegrown oranges are tastier and more nutritious than store-bought.
  • Fragrant Blooms: The aromatic white flowers attract pollinators and scent your garden.
  • Beautiful Tree: Glossy evergreen leaves, vibrant fruits, and spring blossoms make this a stunning landscape plant.
  • Container Friendly: In cooler climates, oranges can be grown in large pots and overwintered indoors.
  • Year-Round Appeal: An evergreen tree offering shade, blooms, and fruit across seasons.
  • Beyond Lemon and Orange: Citrus You’ve Never Heard Of (But Need to Taste)

Orange, Oranges, Citrus, Citrus Fruit, Healthy Fruit, Fruits, citrus x sinensis


How to Grow and Care for a Cara Cara Orange Tree

Light Requirements

Cara Cara orange trees require full sun exposure—at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily—to thrive and produce flavorful fruit. Indoors, supplement with grow lights if natural sunlight is insufficient.

Soil Requirements

These trees prefer well-drained loamy or sandy soils with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0–7.0). Avoid heavy, compacted, or waterlogged soils as they can lead to root diseases.

Watering

Water deeply once or twice a week during the growing season, allowing the top inch (2.5 cm) of soil to dry out between waterings. Overwatering leads to root rot. Mature trees may need less frequent watering depending on rainfall and soil type.

Fertilizing

Feed with a balanced citrus fertilizer rich in nitrogen, magnesium, and iron. Apply 3–4 times a year during active growth, especially in spring and summer. Reduce or stop feeding in fall and winter.

Pruning

Prune lightly after fruiting to remove dead or crossing branches and shape the canopy. Avoid cutting flowering wood, which bears next season’s fruit.

Mulching

Apply mulch around the tree base to conserve moisture and suppress weeds, but keep mulch at least 12 inches (30 cm) away from the trunk to prevent rot.

How to Grow Citrus Indoors: From Fragrant Blooms to Homegrown Fruit

Orange, Oranges, Citrus, Citrus Fruit, Healthy Fruit, Fruits, citrus x sinensis


How to Harvest Cara Cara Oranges

When to Harvest

Cara Cara oranges typically ripen in mid-winter, from December through February, depending on your climate. The fruit is ready to pick when the skin turns deep orange, and the fruit feels firm and aromatic.

How to Harvest

  • Use hand pruners or twist fruit gently from the stem.
  • Harvest only when fully ripe—Cara Cara oranges do not continue to ripen after picking.
  • Sample one or two fruits to test sweetness before harvesting the full crop.

How to Propagate Cara Cara Orange Trees

Propagation by Grafting

  • Cara Cara oranges are a seedless cultivar and must be propagated by grafting to maintain their unique pink flesh and flavor.
  • Use scions from healthy Cara Cara trees and graft onto disease-resistant rootstocks such as trifoliate orange.
  • T-budding and cleft grafting are effective methods for citrus.
  • Grafted trees typically bear fruit in 2–4 years and show improved pest and disease resistance.

Common Pests and Diseases of Cara Cara Orange Trees

Common Pests

  • Aphids: Small insects that feed on young shoots and secrete honeydew, promoting sooty mold.
  • Citrus Leafminers: Larvae tunnel through leaves causing curling and damage.
  • Whiteflies: Feed on sap and produce sticky residue; control with insecticidal soap.
  • Spider Mites: Cause speckled yellowing on leaves and fine webbing.
  • Scale Insects: Appear as bumps on stems and leaves; treat with horticultural oil.
  • Mealybugs: White, cottony insects around leaf joints; remove manually or use neem oil.
  • Fungus Gnats: Thrive in overly moist soil and damage roots.
  • Fruit Flies: Attracted to ripening or damaged fruit; manage with traps.

Common Diseases

  • Citrus Canker: Causes yellow-ringed lesions on fruit and foliage.
  • Greasy Spot: Creates brown, oily spots on leaves; control with copper spray.
  • Anthracnose: Leads to leaf drop and twig dieback; prune and use fungicides.
  • Alternaria Brown Spot: Causes brown lesions on fruit and leaves.
  • Root Rot (Phytophthora): Fungal disease exacerbated by poor drainage; use well-drained soil and fungicides.
  • Scab: Produces corky outgrowths on fruit and foliage.
  • Sooty Mold: Black fungus growing on insect honeydew; control pests to prevent it.
  • Citrus Tristeza Virus: Spread by aphids; causes decline and death. Use certified virus-free trees.

Prevention and Management Tips

  • Inspect trees regularly for early signs of pests or disease.
  • Prune to improve airflow and remove affected parts.
  • Use neem oil or horticultural sprays as needed.
  • Introduce beneficial insects like ladybugs.
  • Maintain good hygiene: clean up fallen leaves and fruit.
  • Ensure well-draining soil to reduce risk of root rot.
  • Use sticky traps or mesh barriers to deter flying pests.

Requirements

Hardiness 9 - 11
Climate Zones 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2
Plant Type Fruits, Trees
Plant Family Rutaceae
Genus Citrus
Common names Navel Orange
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height 6' - 20' (180cm - 6.1m)
Spread 8' - 15' (240cm - 4.6m)
Maintenance Average
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy, Evergreen, Fruit & Berries
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles Mediterranean Garden
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Alternative Plants to Consider

Citrus reticulata ‘Dekopon’ (Sumo Oranges)
Citrus sphaerocarpa (Kabosu)
Citrus sudachi (Sudachi)
Citrus medica (Citron)
Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis (Buddha’s Hand)
Citrus x junos (Yuzu)

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While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
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Requirements

Hardiness 9 - 11
Climate Zones 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2
Plant Type Fruits, Trees
Plant Family Rutaceae
Genus Citrus
Common names Navel Orange
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height 6' - 20' (180cm - 6.1m)
Spread 8' - 15' (240cm - 4.6m)
Maintenance Average
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy, Evergreen, Fruit & Berries
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles Mediterranean Garden
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Guides with
Citrus
Not sure which Citrus to pick?
Compare Now

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