Bigarade Orange Citrus x aurantium

Sour orange is an evergreen tree in the Rutaceae family that grows up to 30 feet tall in a tropical, sub-tropical habitat.  The fruit is inedible as it is very bitter but is essential in making marmalades and liquors such as Triple Sec. It is native to southeastern Asia and has been carried and cultivated throughout the tropical regions of the world.  Its name comes from the Latin noun aurantium, meaning "of orange."  It has smooth, brown bark with thorns.  In cooler zones it can be grown in a container that can be overwintered indoors.

Plant sour orange in full sun, with moist but not overly wet soil. Water regularly, allowing the soil time to dry out between watering. It does well in medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils with a pH of 5 - 8 but it can grow in very alkaline soils also. Care should be taken in its location as it is moderately frost-tender but can survive short freezes. It must get early morning sunlight during the growing season, which is in late winter and early spring, so new, tender branches don't freeze. The tree propagates readily from seed.

The sour orange became more widely grown as a rootstock for other citrus varieties than for its fruit because of its disease resistance and greater hardiness.  But the tree still provides many medicinal benefits and commercial uses for the fruit, flowers, and peel.

Plant outside for year-round enjoyment in the proper hardiness zone or put in a planter for movement inside when the weather turns cold. Sour orange dislikes root disturbance so it should be placed in its permanent location outside when young. If growing them in pots, great care must be taken when moving them to larger containers.

Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems:  Anthracnose is sometimes seen.  Overwatering may cause fungal infections or root rot and the tree to decline in fruit production.  

The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common citrus insect and related pests.