trifoliate orange
Poncirus trifoliata
  • FAMILY: RUTACEAE
  • ALTERNATE COMMON NAMES: wild orange
  • LEAVES: alternate, deciduous, dark-green trifoliate leaves; terminal leaves 2.5” long, lateral leaves smaller; serrate margins
  • FLOWER: in the spring; white, waxy, 1” across; very fragrant
  • FRUIT: 1.0 – 1.5”; dull green to yellow hesperidium (citrus fruit)
  • TWIGS: dark green; angular in cross-section; many thorns
  • BARK: dark green
  • FORM: small tree or large shrub; branched crown; may form thickets
  • HABITAT: moist, sandy to loamy soils; prefers full sun, but often in the under story
  • RANGE: native of China; naturalized throughout the South, north to Pennsylvania
  • USES: rootstock for commercial citrus because of its disease resistance and cold tolerance; makes an impenetrable hedge
  • Best Recognition Features:
    1. small tree, very dark green in color
    2. angular twigs with many thorns
    3. dull green to yellow fruits (oranges)