Prepared by Mark Bell and Ali Almehdi, UC Davis International Programs Office (Oct 2007) "About Citrus and reproduction Citrus plants grown from vegetative material give fruit in two to three years and are identical to the tree from which the plant material was taken. By contrast, seeds from citrus fruit grow into trees and produce fruit, but the trees are not always identical to the parent tree. As a result, fruit production from such seed-generated trees is often limited and of inferior quality. Seed for rootstock While citrus seed is not so suitable for producing trees, the seeds are good for growing rootstock. The plants of the desired cultivar can then be budded onto this rootstock. "