Poncirus trifoliata, also known as trifoliate orange or Japanese bitter orange, is a close relative to the Citrus trees. It a decidious or semi-decidious tree which is native to China. Leaves are trifoliate, and flowers are white, simple and often fragrant. It bears inedible fruits that look like small Citrus fruits.
This little tree is very frost hardy, as it will withstand frosts down to -5°F (-21°C) and lower. It can thus be grown in USDA zones 6 and warmer. This tree has sharp spines that can be up to 2 in long.
Leaves of the Japanese bitter orange are decidious to semi-decidious. They are alternate and trifoliate, and are up to 2 in (5 cm) long. As many Citrus trees, the petiole is more or less winged.
Flowers are white and simple. These flowers, which appear in spring, have 5 petals and are often fragrant.
Trifoliate oranges are small fruits, yellow when ripe, looking like small oranges, whith a slighly pubescent skin. The flesh, which is inedible, contains many seeds.
Poncirus trifoliata requiert les expositions suivantes : lumière,soleil The trifoliate orange dislikes alcaline soils.
Photos of trifoliate orange |
Category - shrub
Dimensions
Height 4.00 m
Width 4.00 m
Minimum temperatures
The plant is likely to die as soon as temperature is below -20.0 °C
Leaves and other aerial parts are damaged as soon as temperatures drops to -20.0 °C
Exposure - light, full sun
Leaves - decidious
Flowers - Fragrant flowersColor(s) : white
Propagation - seeds Poncirus trifoliata is propagated by seeds. Seeds must be as fresh as possible. The trifoliate orange is often used as a rootstock for many Citrus species and varieties, as it is known to improve frost hardiness and fruit quality.
Toxicity No or unknown toxicity.
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