Orange Tarocco Rosso Blood - 4L Pot

Blood Orange ‘Tarocco Rosso’ is an attractive evergreen citrus tree producing sweet, juicy oranges with richly coloured red flesh and a distinctive berry-like flavour. Its delicious fruit combines the familiar sweetness of an orange with subtle strawberry notes and a refreshing citrus tang.

The small to medium-sized, rounded fruit has few seeds and develops beautiful red pigmentation within the flesh as it ripens. The skin can be slightly tougher to peel than traditional oranges, but the richly flavoured, juicy flesh makes it well worth growing.

One of the interesting characteristics of blood oranges is that their red colouring develops best when there is a noticeable difference between daytime and night-time temperatures. Cooler nights during fruit ripening help encourage the distinctive pigmentation, making sheltered gardens in Melbourne and cooler inland areas particularly suitable.

‘Tarocco Rosso’ forms a bushy evergreen tree with attractive glossy green foliage. Fragrant, creamy-white flowers appear before developing into fruit, adding ornamental interest alongside its productive harvest.

Perfect for eating fresh, juicing, desserts and preserves, this variety is also an attractive choice for Mediterranean-style gardens or growing in large decorative containers.

Care & Growing Tips
Plant in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil, preferably in a warm, sheltered position protected from strong winds and heavy frost.

Water regularly while establishing and during extended periods of hot, dry weather. Consistent moisture is particularly important during flowering and fruit development to support healthy, juicy fruit.

Feed with a citrus-specific fertiliser in spring and late summer, following the manufacturer's application instructions. Regular feeding helps maintain healthy foliage and supports flowering and fruiting.

Apply mulch around the base to help retain soil moisture and suppress weeds, keeping it clear of the trunk and graft union.

Prune lightly as required to maintain a compact, balanced shape and remove dead, damaged or crossing branches. Avoid heavy pruning, as this may reduce future fruit production.

For the best red flesh colour, allow fruit to ripen fully on the tree. Cool nights during the ripening period help develop the characteristic blood-orange pigmentation. Fruit grown in consistently warm conditions may have lighter colouring while still developing good flavour.

When growing in containers, use a quality citrus potting mix and choose a large pot with excellent drainage. Container-grown trees will require more frequent watering and feeding than those planted in the ground.

Protect young trees from frost, particularly during establishment. Established trees are more tolerant of cool conditions, although severe frost can damage foliage and fruit.

Ideal for
– Home orchards.
– Edible gardens.
– Large pots and containers.
– Mediterranean-style gardens.
– Fresh eating.
– Homemade blood orange juice.
– Desserts and fruit salads.
– Marmalades and preserves.
– Sunny, sheltered courtyards.
– Gardeners wanting unusual citrus flavours.
– Growing citrus with distinctive red flesh.