Trifoliate Orange Citrus trifoliata
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Trifoliate Orange:
Previously known as:
- Poncirus trifoliata
- Phonetic Spelling
- SIH-trus try-foh-lee-AY-tuh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Trifoliate orange is a deciduous thorny shrub or small tree in the citrus family (Rutaceae) native to China. The species epithet is Latin for “having three leaflets” and refers to the compound (trifoliolate or ternate) leaves of this species. It was brought into cultivation as a hardy rootstock for grafted citrus trees but has since become popular in its own right.
It prefers well-drained, acidic soil in a sunny location and grows up to nearly 20 feet tall. It is intolerant of shady sites and suffers in especially cold winters.
The thorns of the trifoliate orange are sharp and numerous. The plant is not for high-traffic areas, but it can make a very effective security hedge. This plant blooms in mid-spring with large, fragrant flowers typical of the genus (although the flowers are not as fragrant as orange blossoms). 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 after handling the fruits or other plant parts in sunlight. Like many plants in the citrus family, it has chemicals in the leaves and fruits that can cause photodermatitis. While the peel and the pulp can be used to make marmalade, the lightly fuzzy, orange fruits are often left on the tree to provide beauty well into winter.
Trifoliate orange makes an impenetrable security hedge or an interesting feature specimen in an Asian garden, sensory garden, pollinator garden or edible garden. The fruits add color to a winter garden. It can also grow well in a large container.
Quick ID Hints:
- Lemon-like, lightly fuzzy, fall-ripening, sour fruit
- Trifoliolate leaves with winged petioles
- Bright green twigs and numerous, long green thorns
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious pest or disease problems. It can be weedy and is considered invasive in some states, including in NC by the NC Invasive Plant Council. See native alternatives to the left.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common citrus insect and related pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- 'Flying Dragon'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- 'Flying Dragon'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Citrus
- Species:
- trifoliata
- Family:
- Rutaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and northern China
- Edibility:
- This plant is edible
- Dimensions:
- Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Oval
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Thorns
-
-
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:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
-
-
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 and slightly fuzzy. Though sour, the juice can be used to flavor beverages. It can be used to make marmalade.
-
-
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.
-
-
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 trifoliolate. Leaflets are obovate to elliptic, emarginate, acuminate, crenate to serrate, and the terminal is larger than the laterals. Petiole is winged. Three leaflets emerge yellow-green and turn dark green in the summer. They are yellow in the fall.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Green
- Bark Description:
- Green-striped.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Description:
- Spiny, thorny.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Edible Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Hedge
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Problem for Children
- Spines/Thorns
- Weedy
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Causes only low toxicity if eaten in quantity. Skin irritation minor or lasting only for a few minutes. Furanocoumarins are responsible for photodermatitis, which occurs when the compound is applied to the skin in the presence of sunlight (UV).
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Oil and saponic glycoside. Furanocoumarins.
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Fruits
