What is a Sugar Belle?

How Sweet It Is! Sugar Belles Are Taking the Citrus World by Storm

What is a sugar belle orange, you ask? Only one of the sweetest little citrus fruits available! But if you thought “Sugar Belle” was just the name of a My Little Pony™ unicorn (those with kids might be familiar with the song, “The Battle for Sugar Belle”), we’ll give you a pass since the only place to shop sugar belles is online – they’re not available in most grocery stores. (Which is a shame, because sugar belle fruit is wonderful!)

What are sugar belles?

Not to be confused with the Adventures of sweet sugar belle” (a cookie decorating blog) or the boutiques in Beaufort or Winchester, the sugar belle citrus variety was developed by University of Florida researchers in the 1980s Scientists were looking to create a citrus variety that was resistant to “greening,” a plant disease that has done major damage to citrus trees throughout the world. Since it spread to the Americas, greening has killed millions of trees and caused a sharp decline in production in many citrus growing regions.

A cross between a honeybell orange and a clementine, sugar belle oranges contain high levels of phenolics, a compound believed to help fend off citrus greening. Sugar belle oranges are also very high in vitamin C – 40% higher that most comparable citrus varieties, making them a nutritional powerhouse.

Sugar belle citrus fruits are seedless and easy to peel, making them perfect for snacking, but their sweet flavor, bright aroma also make them ideal for juicing, in salads, desserts and other dishes.

How are sugar belles different than honeybells?

Like honeybell oranges, sugar belle oranges are bright orange in color and slightly bell-shaped at one end. While sugar belles are nice and juicy, they are not as drippy or runny as honeybells. This, along with their small, snackable size, make them an excellent choice for lunch boxes. And that’s not even taking into account their incredibly sweet, vibrant flavor!

Another advantage sugar belle oranges have over honeybell oranges is a slightly longer growing season. They’re still only available from November to January, however, so make sure you take advantage of their availability. Order a batch of sugar belles for a holiday gift that’s sure to please!

Can I grow my own sugar belles?

Before you start looking for a sugar belle tree for sale, you should take your growing conditions into consideration.

Sugar belle trees are grafted trees that are cold hardy to 20°F, meaning they do best in growing zones 8B through 10B. When mature they reach a height of 12-14 feet and a width or spread of 8-10 feet. They also require part to full sun.

If you don’t live in the right climate or have enough space to allow a sugar belle tangerine tree to thrive, you’re probably better off looking for a dwarf sugar belle citrus tree for sale, though when fully mature they can reach a height of 10 feet unless they are carefully pruned. Caring for a sugar belle tree is akin to caring for most full-sized or dwarf citrus trees, but you may have a hard time finding either variety for a while yet as they were only released by the UF in 2009, and most of the nurseries that do sell sugar belle trees don’t ship outside the Sunshine State.

Hopefully these tasty fruits will be more readily available at some point in the future. For shop online to purchase sugar belle oranges for yourself and your friends and family.