Citrus trifoliata
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Poncirus trifoliata
- Phonetic Spelling
- SIT-rus try-foh-lee-AY-tuh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Trifoliate Orange or Hardy Orange is a deciduous thorny shrub or small tree that prefers well drained, acidic soil in a sunny location and grows up to nearly 20' tall. This plant blooms in mid-spring and fruit ripens in early fall. Spines are sharp and numerous and are not for high traffic areas. This plant may be pruned into a thick, impenetrable hedge. This plant is an excellent winter character as specimen planting. This plant prefers well-drained, acid soil and full sun. It is intolerant of shady siting, is easily transplanted, and has no serious pest or disease problems.
The lemon-like fruit is exceedingly sour and full of seeds. If eaten in large quantities, the high acidity can cause severe stomach pain and nausea. Some people experience minor skin irritation with prolonged contact. While the peel and the pulp can be used to make marmalade, the fruit is often left on the tree to provide beauty well into winter.
Makes an excellent hedge, its thorns deterring entry. However, it can be somewhat invasive.
Quick ID Hints:
- Lemon-like, fall-ripening, sour fruit
- Trifoliate leaves with winged petioles
- Bright green twigs and numerous, long green spines
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Flying Dragon'
Contorted, twisted stems.
- 'Flying Dragon'
- 'Flying Dragon'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Flying Dragon'
Contorted, twisted stems.
- 'Flying Dragon'
- 'Flying Dragon'
- Tags:
-
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Citrus
- Species:
- trifoliata
- Family:
- Rutaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and northern China
- Play Value:
- Buffer
- Easy to Grow
- Edible fruit
- Fragrance
- Screening
- Textural
- Edibility:
- This plant is edible
- Dimensions:
- Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Oval
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Thorns
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are modified berries (hesperidium), dull lemon-yellow like a small orange, fragrant when ripe, sour, many-seeded with thick peel and oil glands. The peel is also rough. Though sour, the juice can be used to flavor beverages. It can be used to make marmalade.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are white, 5-petaled, axillary, solitary in leaf axils, and aromatic.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are alternate and trifoliate. Leaflets are obovate to elliptic, emarginate, acuminate, crenate to serrate, and the terminal is larger than the laterals. Petiole is winged. 3 leaflets emerge yellow-green and turn dark green in the summer. They are yellow in the fall.
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Bark:
- Bark Description:
- Green-striped.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Description:
- Spiny, thorny.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Border
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Security
- Specimen
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN. SKIN IRRITATION MINOR OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. Severe stomach pain and nausea; skin irritation with prolonged contact.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Oil and saponic glycoside
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Fruits
