Satsuma Trees

The satsuma (Citrus unshiu) is a small citrus tree native to East Asia. It is one of several citrus trees that produce the mandarin variety of tangerines, which are sweet, juicy fruit of a bright, red-orange color. Dr. Steve George of the Texas Cooperative Extension notes that the tennis-ball-size fruit of satsuma trees is almost seedless, low in acid and very easy to peel and eat. Several characteristics of the satsuma tree have also made it popular among home gardeners.

Taxonomy
As members of the plant kingdom, satsuma trees also belong to the division Angiospermae, class Magnoliopsida, order Rosids and the suborder Sapindales. The satsuma is a member of the family Rutaceae and the genus Citrus, and it is identified scientifically by species as Citrus unshiu or Citrus reticulata. The plant is also known by the common names satsuma mandarin tree and satsuma tangerine tree.

Distribution
Satsuma trees were first discovered in Japan more than 700 years ago, though they are believed to originate from China as well. This fruit tree's moniker reflects its native land, as "Satsuma" was the name of the former Japanese province now known as Kagoshima prefecture. Today, satsuma trees thrive in the temperate subtropical regions of north Florida, areas of the Gulf Coast, central California, southern South America and Africa, central China and southern Japan. The more than 100 cultivars of satsuma trees produce mandarin oranges, commonly known as tangerines, of various sizes, colors, shapes and sweetness level that mature at different times.

Small Citrus
The relatively small size, aromatic white flowers, glossy green foliage and tasty fruit of satsuma trees have made them popular landscape and container choices for home gardeners. Satsuma trees can be productive at heights of only 4 to 6 feet for many years, and they produce the best fruit from October through November when in an environment that provides hot summers and consistently cool winters. Whether you intend to grow your satsuma trees in the ground or containers, water them only when the soil is dry an inch below the surface, as over-watering will do more harm than drought.

Cold Hardy
The University of Florida IFAS Extension notes that the satsuma tree is the most cold-tolerant tangerine cultivar of commercial importance. It explains that mature satsuma trees have survived temperatures as low as 15 degrees F in dormancy without serious injury, and that this cold-hardiness allows some species to ripen earlier than other citrus fruit. Even so, Dr. Steve George of the Texas Cooperative Extension notes that satsuma trees are still susceptible to sub-freezing temperatures, and you should take steps to protect your plant under cold conditions.

Source: http://www.ehow.com/info_12079688_satsuma-trees.html