Trifoliate Orange (Poncirus trifoliata): Hardy Citrus Relative

Trifoliate orange, also called Japanese bitter orange, is a thorny, deciduous shrub or small tree native to China. It survives temperatures as low as 5°F, making it the hardiest citrus relative.

Identification

• Leaves: three dark green, soft leaflets per leaf.
• Thorns: stout, 2 inches long.
• Fruit: yellow, fuzzy, golf-ball sized, intensely aromatic but inedible due to bitter ponciridin oil.

Uses

• Rootstock for grafting commercial citrus to impart cold hardiness.
• ‘Flying Dragon’ cultivar: dwarf, contorted form used as ornamental specimen.
• Some make “lemonade” by mixing juice of one fruit with a barrel of water and a barrel of sugar!

Images

A tough, distinctive plant for adventurous gardeners.