How Does an Etrog Grow? From Flower to Sukkot Fruit
From the Orchard to Sukkot
How Does an Etrog Grow?
Follow the remarkable journey from a delicate flower to the beautiful citron used for the mitzvah of the Four Species.
Most people first see an etrog when it is already packed carefully inside a box, ready to be used with the lulav on Sukkot. But every etrog begins much earlier, as a small blossom growing on an etrog tree.
The Etrog Flower
Each etrog starts as a delicate white blossom, often touched with pink or purple. After pollination, the petals fall away and the fruit begins to form.
A Tiny Etrog Appears
The young fruit is still very small, but it already has the green color and textured skin associated with a mature etrog.
The Etrog Reaches Full Size
With time, sunlight, water and careful attention, the fruit grows larger. A mature etrog may still be green before gradually turning yellow.
What Is an Etrog?
An etrog is a citron, known botanically as Citrus medica. It is one of the Arba Minim, the Four Species used during Sukkot together with the lulav, hadassim and aravos.
The Torah calls it a pri etz hadar, commonly translated as “the fruit of a beautiful tree.” Unlike an ordinary lemon, an etrog has a thick rind, relatively little juice and a distinctive fragrance.
From the Orchard to Your Sukkah
The journey of an etrog is a beautiful reminder that the mitzvos we perform often begin long before they reach us. A flower blossoms, a tiny fruit begins to form, and growers carefully tend it until it is ready to be harvested.
At EasyEtrog, we are proud to help bring quality lulav and etrog sets from the orchard to Jewish families, synagogues, schools and Chabad Houses across the United States.
Prepare for Sukkot with Confidence
Explore carefully selected lulav and etrog sets for individuals, families, synagogues and community orders.
Shop Lulav & Etrog Sets