| Trifoliate Orange | |
| Poncirus trifoliata |
Smallish citrus fruit with wrinkled yellow skin and a very sour flavor, similar to a sour orange.
Description: Small
to medium sized tree, usually only 10-20ft high. It is an important rootstock for commercial citrus as it provides additional
cold hardiness. The Flying Dragon variety (pictured above) is commonly
used as a dwarfing rootstock, and when other citrus species are grafted
to it, they often grow only 4-8ft high. This rootstock is commonly used
for citrus trees found in nurseries.
White flowers are followed shortly afterwards by lemon-yellow fruit.
Hardiness: The trifoliate orange
is extremely hardy, suriviving temperatures well below 0F.
Growing Environment: The trifoliate orange will defoliate
during cold months and needs moderate water during the warm months.
Propagation: Commonly by seeds.
Uses: Fruits are not often eaten, although they are edible, the tree is usually used as an important rootstock for other citrus.
Native Range: Native to China and Korea.