Washington Navel Orange

The Washington Navel Orange is one of the most famous and widely grown varieties of sweet oranges (Citrus sinensis). Here’s a detailed overview:

🍊 General Description

Scientific name: Citrus sinensis (Washington Navel cultivar)

Type: Seedless sweet orange

Origin: Bahia, Brazil (early 1800s)

Introduced to the U.S.: 1870s, in Riverside, California

Parentage: A spontaneous mutation of a select sweet orange tree

🌱 Characteristics
Feature Description
Fruit size Medium to large (typically 3–4 inches in diameter)
Shape Round to slightly oval
Skin Thick, bright orange, easy to peel
Flesh Juicy, seedless, sweet, and aromatic
“Navel” A small secondary fruit embedded at the blossom end (resembles a human navel)
Seeds Usually seedless
Harvest season Winter to early spring (in California, typically Nov–Apr)
Tree Medium-sized, rounded canopy, glossy green leaves
Growing Regions

Primary producers: California, Arizona, and parts of Australia, South Africa, and the Mediterranean.

The variety thrives in subtropical climates with mild winters and warm, dry summers