Citrus.com Review

Based on looking at the website, Citrus.com appears to be an online retailer specializing in fruit trees, particularly citrus varieties, along with some related items like olive, mango, and avocado trees.

The site presents itself as a legitimate e-commerce platform for purchasing plants.

However, a deeper dive reveals a critical inconsistency that raises significant concerns about its trustworthiness and ethical standing, which would lead one to exercise extreme caution before making any purchases.

Overall Review Summary:

• Website Name: Citrus.com but redirects to Yarden.com
• Primary Product: Fruit Trees Citrus, Mango, Avocado, Olive
• Promised Features: Free Shipping on orders $199+, detailed product listings, customer reviews, blog content
• Key Concern: The website’s primary domain Citrus.com redirects to Yarden.com. This is a significant red flag for transparency and brand identity. While both domains might belong to the same entity, the discrepancy is not clearly explained on the homepage.
• Ethical Standpoint: The products themselves fruit trees are permissible and beneficial. However, the lack of clarity regarding the domain name ownership and the implied redirection raises questions about the business’s upfront nature. Trusted, ethical businesses typically maintain a consistent and clear brand identity across their web presence.
• Recommendation: Not recommended due to the domain name inconsistency and potential implications for transparency and customer trust. While the products are fine, the underlying operational clarity is questionable.

Best Alternatives for Ethical Plant & Garden Supplies:

• Burpee
  • Key Features: Wide selection of seeds, plants, and gardening supplies. extensive gardening guides and resources. reputable brand with over a century of experience.
  • Average Price: Varies widely, seeds typically $3-10, plants $10-50+.
  • Pros: Highly established and trusted. excellent variety for all gardening needs. robust educational content. clear and consistent branding.
  • Cons: Some unique plant varieties can be pricey.
• Johnny’s Selected Seeds
  • Key Features: Focus on high-quality, often organic and heirloom, seeds and tools for home gardeners and market growers. strong commitment to sustainability.
  • Average Price: Seeds $3-15, tools $15-100+.
  • Pros: Excellent quality control. very detailed product descriptions. strong emphasis on organic and sustainable practices. clear mission.
  • Cons: Primarily focused on seeds, less on mature plants directly.
• Fast Growing Trees
  • Key Features: Specializes in larger, established trees and shrubs. offers a wide variety of fruit trees, shade trees, and ornamentals. direct shipping of live plants.
  • Average Price: $30-200+ depending on tree size and type.
  • Pros: Convenient for buying larger plants ready to thrive. often have good guarantees on plant health. consistent branding.
  • Cons: Can be more expensive due to size and shipping of live plants. focus is primarily on trees and large shrubs.
• Gurney’s Seed & Nursery Co.
  • Key Features: Offers a broad range of seeds, plants, fruit trees, and gardening accessories. frequent promotions and bundles.
  • Average Price: Varies, often competitive with sales.
  • Pros: Extensive selection. good for finding deals. long-standing reputation in the gardening community.
  • Cons: Some customer reviews mention occasional issues with plant quality on arrival, but generally reliable.
• Stark Bro’s Nurseries & Orchards Co.
  • Key Features: Specializes in fruit trees, berry plants, and nut trees since 1816. offers a vast selection of heirloom and modern varieties. strong focus on productive plants.
  • Average Price: $25-100+ for young trees.
  • Pros: Unmatched historical reputation for fruit trees. excellent guides and resources for fruit growing. consistent and clear branding.
  • Cons: Primarily focused on fruit and nut trees, less general gardening.
• Territorial Seed Company
  • Key Features: Provides a diverse range of vegetable, herb, and flower seeds, as well as some live plants. strong focus on regional adaptation and organic growing.
  • Average Price: Seeds $3-10, small plants $10-30.
  • Pros: High-quality seeds and plants. emphasis on organic and sustainable practices. good resources for regional gardening.
  • Cons: Less focus on large trees compared to specialized nurseries.
• Amazon Gardening Supplies
  • Key Features: Wide array of gardening tools, soil, planters, fertilizers, and even some live plants from various sellers.
  • Average Price: Highly variable, from a few dollars to hundreds.
  • Pros: Huge selection and competitive pricing. convenient shipping. customer reviews can be helpful for vetting products.
  • Cons: Quality can vary greatly between sellers. buying live plants requires careful vetting of specific sellers.

Find detailed reviews on Trustpilot, Reddit, and BBB.org, for software products you can also check Producthunt.

IMPORTANT: We have not personally tested this company’s services. This review is based solely on information provided by the company on their website. For independent, verified user experiences, please refer to trusted sources such as Trustpilot, Reddit, and BBB.org.

citrus.com Review & First Look: The Redirect Mystery

When you punch “Citrus.com” into your browser, you expect to land squarely on a page dedicated to citrus. What you actually get is an immediate, seamless redirection to Yarden.com. This isn’t just a minor branding tweak. it’s a fundamental shift that warrants a closer look. From a user experience and transparency standpoint, this is a peculiar choice. Why maintain a domain like Citrus.com only to shunt all traffic to Yarden.com without a clear explanation on the landing page itself? This kind of digital sleight of hand, intentional or not, can erode trust.

What is Yarden.com?

Based on the content loaded after the redirect, Yarden.com is an e-commerce platform selling various fruit trees, including a significant selection of citrus trees. It features:

• Product Categories: ‘Citrus Trees’, ‘Cocktail Trees’, ‘Grapefruit Trees’, ‘Kumquat Trees’, ‘Large Citrus Trees’, ‘Lemon / Lime Trees’, ‘Mandarin Tangerine Trees’, ‘Orange Trees’.
• Best-Selling Products: Prominently displayed are items like ‘Arbequina Olive Tree’, ‘Haden Mango Tree’, ‘Bacon Avocado Tree’, and various citrus options such as ‘Glen Navel Orange Tree’ and ‘Improved Meyer Lemon Tree’. Each product lists a rating and a starting price.
• Blog Section: There’s a “From the Blog” section featuring articles like “Add Some Luck to Your Yarden this Chinese New Year!” and recipes like “Ginger-Lime Baby Back Ribs Recipe.” This suggests an effort to engage customers beyond just sales.

The Domain Discrepancy Explained or Not

The core issue here is the lack of transparency regarding the domain name change. While it’s common for businesses to own multiple domains, direct unannounced redirection without any ‘About Us’ section explaining the relationship between Citrus.com and Yarden.com right on the homepage is unusual. Is Citrus.com an old brand name? Is Yarden.com a new umbrella company? Without this crucial information, a user is left wondering about the underlying business entity. For a business aiming for long-term customer relationships, clear communication about its identity is paramount.

citrus.com Yarden.com Features: What They Offer

Despite the domain confusion, Yarden.com does offer a range of features typical of an online plant nursery.

They focus on delivering live trees and associated content to help customers make purchasing decisions and maintain their plants.

Product Range and Variety

Yarden.com showcases a decent variety of fruit trees, going beyond just citrus.

• Citrus Focus: As implied by the original domain, citrus trees are a core offering, with distinct categories for different types of oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits, and kumquats. This specialization can be a positive for those specifically seeking citrus varieties.
• Beyond Citrus: The inclusion of ‘Arbequina Olive Tree’, ‘Haden Mango Tree’, and ‘Bacon Avocado Tree’ demonstrates a broader scope, catering to diverse fruit-growing interests. The “Cocktail Tree – Meyer Lemon / Key Lime” is an interesting multi-grafted option.
• Product Details: Each product listing includes a star rating, a price, and presumably leads to a detailed product page with more information, although this isn’t directly visible on the homepage.

Customer Engagement and Support

The website includes elements designed to engage customers and offer support.

• “Contact Us” Link: A direct link to a contact page is available, which is essential for customer service and inquiries. This provides a clear channel for communication.
• “Blog” Section: The blog is an attempt to provide valuable content, from cultural insights Chinese New Year to recipes “Ginger-Lime Baby Back Ribs Recipe” and practical guides “How to Cut an Avocado”. This can be a strong point, enriching the customer experience and offering reasons to revisit the site.
• “Account” and “Shopping Cart”: Standard e-commerce features for managing orders and purchases are present, ensuring a familiar online shopping experience.

Shipping and Pricing Structure

The site highlights a key offer right at the top:

• “Free Shipping orders $199+”: This is a common incentive in e-commerce, encouraging larger purchases. For live plants, shipping costs can be significant, so this is a notable benefit for bulk buyers.
• Individual Product Pricing: Prices for individual trees are clearly listed on the homepage, ranging from $39.95 for an ‘Improved Meyer Lemon Tree’ to $84.95 for a ‘Bacon Avocado Tree’. This upfront pricing helps customers gauge affordability quickly.

citrus.com Yarden.com Pros & Cons: A Critical Assessment

Evaluating Yarden.com the operational site of citrus.com involves weighing its strengths against its weaknesses, particularly in terms of transparency and user experience.

Cons Areas for Improvement and Concerns

The primary “con” is the one that started this review: Friedcrisp.com Review

• Domain Name Inconsistency: The most glaring issue is the redirection from Citrus.com to Yarden.com without a clear explanation on the landing page. This can be confusing for users and raises questions about brand identity and transparency. A trusted business should clearly communicate its identity.
• Lack of Detailed “About Us” on Homepage: While a “Contact Us” link exists, a prominent “About Us” section directly on the homepage or linked clearly to a detailed page that explains the company’s mission, history, and particularly the relationship between Citrus.com and Yarden.com, is conspicuously absent. This missing information can undermine trust.
• Limited Information on Plant Sourcing/Sustainability: The homepage doesn’t offer immediate insights into where the plants are sourced, their growing practices, or any sustainability initiatives. For environmentally conscious consumers, this information is increasingly vital.
• No Obvious Security/Trust Badges on Homepage: While the site likely has SSL encryption indicated by “https://”, there are no visible trust badges e.g., McAfee Secure, Norton Secured, BBB rating on the homepage. These badges can enhance a customer’s sense of security.
• No Customer Service Number Displayed: While there is a ‘Contact Us’ page, having a visible customer service phone number on the main page offers immediate reassurance and accessibility for urgent queries.

citrus.com Alternatives: Finding Reliable Plant Suppliers

Given the concerns about transparency with Citrus.com’s redirection to Yarden.com, it’s wise to explore alternatives that prioritize clarity, customer trust, and quality.

Here are some of the best ethical and reliable options for acquiring plants and gardening supplies.

Established Online Nurseries

These companies have built reputations over years, often centuries, for their quality products and transparent operations.

• Stark Bro’s Nurseries & Orchards Co.: With a history dating back to 1816, Stark Bro’s is a titan in the fruit tree industry. They offer a vast selection of fruit, nut, and berry plants, along with detailed planting guides and resources. Their transparency in product descriptions and customer support is a benchmark.
  • What they do well: Deep expertise in fruit trees, historical reliability, extensive educational content.
  • Why they’re a good alternative: Clear branding, long-standing trust, specialized knowledge in fruit-bearing plants.
• Burpee: A household name for seeds and plants, Burpee provides a comprehensive range of gardening products. Their website is user-friendly, and they consistently update their offerings with new varieties and gardening trends.
  • What they do well: Broad product range seeds, plants, tools, strong brand recognition, educational content.
  • Why they’re a good alternative: Trustworthy, wide variety, comprehensive resource for gardeners.
• Fast Growing Trees: As the name suggests, this nursery specializes in delivering larger, more mature trees directly to your door, including many fruit varieties. They focus on vigorous, healthy plants that establish quickly.
  • What they do well: Larger specimen plants, direct shipping, good guarantees on plant health.
  • Why they’re a good alternative: Convenience for established plants, clear business model, reputable in the live plant shipping niche.

Specialized and Sustainable Options

For those looking for specific types of plants or prioritizing sustainable practices, these alternatives shine.

• Johnny’s Selected Seeds: While primarily a seed company, Johnny’s is renowned for its high-quality, often organic and heirloom varieties, along with farming tools. They are a go-to for serious gardeners and small-scale farmers.
  • What they do well: Organic and heirloom options, detailed growing information, strong commitment to quality.
  • Why they’re a good alternative: Emphasis on sustainability and quality, transparent sourcing of seeds.
• Territorial Seed Company: This company offers a curated selection of seeds and plants adapted for various climates, with a strong focus on organic and sustainable gardening practices. They provide excellent regional advice.
  • What they do well: Regional plant adaptation, organic focus, valuable gardening resources.
  • Why they’re a good alternative: Ethical sourcing, focus on environmental health, helpful local advice.

General Gardening Marketplaces

While requiring more careful vetting of individual sellers, large marketplaces can offer variety and competitive pricing.

• Amazon Gardening Supplies: Amazon hosts numerous sellers offering everything from gardening tools and soil amendments to live plants. It’s crucial to check seller reviews and product descriptions thoroughly when purchasing live plants.
  • What they do well: Vast selection, competitive pricing, convenient delivery.
  • Why they’re a good alternative: Huge marketplace for tools and non-perishable supplies. some reputable live plant sellers exist but require diligence.

Choosing an alternative based on clear branding, a strong history of customer satisfaction, and transparent business practices is key to a successful gardening journey.

How to Navigate Subscriptions and Purchases on Yarden.com formerly citrus.com

While the direct redirection from Citrus.com to Yarden.com might raise an eyebrow, if you choose to proceed with a purchase, understanding their transactional process is key.

Most online plant nurseries operate on a direct purchase model rather than a subscription.

Understanding the Purchase Process

• One-Time Purchases: Based on the homepage display, Yarden.com operates on a standard e-commerce model where customers select individual trees and add them to a shopping cart. There’s no indication of recurring subscriptions for plant deliveries or a “plant of the month” club.
• Shopping Cart: The “View your shopping cart 0” link is a standard e-commerce feature. Once you’ve selected your items, you’d proceed to a checkout process, likely involving shipping information, payment details, and order confirmation.
• Account Management: The “Account” link suggests that users can create an account to track their orders, manage shipping addresses, and possibly view past purchases. This is a common feature for online retailers.

Order Fulfillment and Shipping

• Shipping Offer: The “Free Shipping orders $199+” is a clear incentive. This indicates that orders below this threshold will incur a shipping charge.
• Live Plant Shipping: Shipping live plants requires specialized packaging and often faster transit times to ensure the plant arrives healthy. While not explicitly detailed on the homepage, a reputable plant nursery would have specific shipping policies regarding plant health guarantees upon arrival.
• Delivery Times: For live plants, delivery times can vary based on your location and the nursery’s shipping schedule e.g., shipping only on certain days to avoid weekend transit delays. This information would typically be found in an FAQ or shipping policy section, not usually on the homepage.

citrus.com Yarden.com Pricing: What to Expect

When considering buying live plants online, pricing is a crucial factor. I-blades.com Review

Yarden.com provides clear upfront pricing for its best-selling products on the homepage.

Tree Pricing Overview

The prices displayed on the homepage are for individual trees and generally fall within the typical range for young fruit trees from online nurseries, considering factors like size, rarity, and species.

• Entry-Level Trees: The ‘Improved Meyer Lemon Tree’ at $39.95 appears to be one of their more affordable options, likely a smaller, younger plant.
• Mid-Range Trees: Many popular varieties like the ‘Haden Mango Tree’ at $59.99, ‘Glen Navel Orange Tree’ at $59.95, and ‘Cocktail Tree – Meyer Lemon / Key Lime’ starting at $69.95 fall into this category.
• Higher-End Trees: The ‘Bacon Avocado Tree’ at $84.95 and ‘Arbequina Olive Tree’ starting at $69.99 represent some of their higher-priced offerings, which might reflect the size, maturity, or unique qualities of these particular plants.

Factors Influencing Price

Several factors typically influence the price of live trees from online nurseries:

• Tree Size and Maturity: Smaller, younger plants are generally less expensive than more mature specimens that have had more time to grow in the nursery.
• Species Rarity: Exotic or less common fruit tree varieties might command a higher price.
• Grafted vs. Seedling: Grafted trees, especially multi-grafted “cocktail trees,” are often more expensive due to the specialized horticultural techniques involved.
• Shipping Costs: While free shipping is offered for orders over $199, smaller orders will incur shipping fees, which can add a significant percentage to the total cost, especially for delicate live plants.
• Packaging: Quality packaging designed to protect live plants during transit also adds to the operational cost, which is reflected in pricing.

Value Proposition

The value proposition for Yarden.com seems to be providing access to a variety of fruit trees, some of which might be harder to find at local nurseries, delivered to your door.

The prices are competitive with other online plant retailers.

However, the overarching concern remains the inconsistent branding between Citrus.com and Yarden.com, which can subtly undermine the perceived value proposition by introducing an element of doubt regarding the underlying business’s transparency.

Customers are paying for the plant, but also for the reliability and trustworthiness of the supplier.

FAQ

What is Citrus.com?

Based on checking the website, Citrus.com is a domain that redirects to Yarden.com, which is an online retailer specializing in various fruit trees, including citrus, mango, avocado, and olive trees, for home gardeners.

Is Citrus.com a legitimate website?

Citrus.com itself redirects to Yarden.com, which appears to be an operational e-commerce site selling live plants.

While the products sold fruit trees are legitimate, the unexplained redirection from Citrus.com to Yarden.com raises questions about brand transparency and consistency, which can be a red flag for some users. Vin-alsace-gueth.com Review

Why does Citrus.com redirect to Yarden.com?

The website’s homepage does not provide a clear explanation for the redirection from Citrus.com to Yarden.com.

This lack of transparency is the primary concern, as it can confuse users and suggest a potential disconnect in branding or business identity.

What kind of products does Yarden.com sell?

Yarden.com sells a variety of live fruit trees, including numerous types of citrus trees lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruits, kumquats, as well as olive trees, mango trees, and avocado trees.

They also offer “cocktail trees” which are multi-grafted varieties.

Does Yarden.com offer free shipping?

Yes, Yarden.com offers free shipping on orders totaling $199 or more.

For orders below this amount, shipping charges will apply.

What are the prices of trees on Yarden.com?

Prices vary depending on the type and possibly the size of the tree.

Examples seen on the homepage include an ‘Improved Meyer Lemon Tree’ starting at $39.95, a ‘Haden Mango Tree’ for $59.99, and a ‘Bacon Avocado Tree’ for $84.95.

Are there customer reviews on Yarden.com?

The homepage displays star ratings for its best-selling products e.g., ‘Arbequina Olive Tree Rated 4.69 out of 5’, indicating that customer reviews are present, likely on individual product pages.

Does Yarden.com have a blog?

Yes, Yarden.com features a blog section with articles related to gardening, plant care, and recipes, such as “Add Some Luck to Your Yarden this Chinese New Year!” and “Ginger-Lime Baby Back Ribs Recipe.” Eventsandmoore.com Review

How can I contact Yarden.com customer service?

Yarden.com provides a “Contact Us” link on its homepage, which presumably leads to a page with contact information, such as an email address or a contact form.

A phone number is not prominently displayed on the homepage.

What are the best alternatives to Citrus.com Yarden.com?

Some highly reputable and ethical alternatives for purchasing plants and gardening supplies include Stark Bro’s Nurseries & Orchards Co., Burpee, Fast Growing Trees, Johnny’s Selected Seeds, and Territorial Seed Company.

Is there a return policy for plants purchased from Yarden.com?

Details on a specific return policy for live plants are not available on the homepage.

Reputable nurseries usually have clear policies regarding plant health guarantees and returns, which would typically be found in their FAQ or terms and conditions.

Does Yarden.com sell seeds in addition to trees?

The homepage primarily highlights live trees.

While some nurseries sell both, the immediate focus of Yarden.com appears to be on established trees rather than seeds.

How do I create an account on Yarden.com?

Yarden.com has an “Account” link on its homepage, which would typically allow new users to register for an account or existing users to log in to manage their orders and preferences.

Can I cancel an order placed on Yarden.com?

Information on order cancellation policies is not found on the homepage.

This information would usually be detailed in their terms and conditions or FAQ section. Scrembocoaching.com Review

Customers would typically need to contact customer service directly.

What payment methods does Yarden.com accept?

The homepage does not explicitly list accepted payment methods.

Most e-commerce sites accept major credit cards Visa, Mastercard, American Express and often digital payment platforms like PayPal.

Is the “Cocktail Tree” a real plant?

Yes, “Cocktail Trees” are real.

They are created by grafting multiple compatible fruit varieties onto a single rootstock, allowing different types of fruit like Meyer Lemon and Key Lime in one example to grow on the same tree.

Does Yarden.com ship internationally?

The website mentions “Shipping to: Change” which implies a shipping location selection.

However, specific international shipping policies are not detailed on the homepage and would need to be verified, as live plant shipping rules vary greatly by country.

How long does it take for trees from Yarden.com to bear fruit?

The time it takes for a tree to bear fruit depends on its species, age at the time of purchase, and growing conditions.

This information is typically provided on individual product pages or in general growing guides.

Are the plants from Yarden.com organic?

The homepage does not specify whether the plants sold by Yarden.com are organic. Raze.host Review

If this is a concern, customers would need to check individual product descriptions or contact customer service for clarification.

What information should I look for before buying from an online plant nursery?

Before purchasing from an online plant nursery, you should look for clear branding and transparent business information, detailed product descriptions, clear shipping and return policies, customer reviews, contact information including a phone number if possible, and any available information on plant sourcing or sustainability practices.