Trifoliate Orange Citrus trifoliata
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Trifoliate Orange:
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 an invasive deciduous thorny shrub or small tree in the Rutaceae (citrus) family native to China. The species name trifoliata is Latin for three leaved and refers to the glossy dark green three lobed leaves of this plant.
It prefers well drained, acidic soil in a sunny location and grows up to nearly 20' tall. This plant blooms in mid-spring and the showy orange fruit ripens in early fall. Thorns are sharp and numerous and are not for high traffic areas. It is intolerant of shady sites and isn't particularly winter-hardy.
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.
Quick ID Hints:
- Lemon-like, fall-ripening, sour fruit
- Trifoliate leaves with winged petioles
- Bright green twigs and numerous, long green spines
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious pest or disease problems. It can be weedy and is considered invasive in some states including 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'
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
- 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
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Oval
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- 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:
- 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
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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 Color:
- Green
- 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:
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Children
- Spines/Thorns
- Weedy
