5 HARDY ORANGE TREE Trifoliate Citrus Trifoliata Poncirus Fruit White Flower Seeds

Description:
Name: Hardy Orange
Other common names: Trifoliate Orange, Bitter Orange
Scientific name: Citrus Trifoliata syn. Poncirus Trifoliata, Citrus Trifolia, Citrus Triptera
Color: White flowers, Orange fruit
Plant seeds: Fall, Cold stratify, Outdoors after frost, Indoors weeks before last frost
Harvest: Fall
Bloom time: Spring (Apr-May)
Hardiness zone: 5-9
Plant height: 12-18 feet
Plant spacing: 5-15 feet
Light requirements: Sun to part shade
Soil and water preferences: Average
Quantity: 5 seeds

The Hardy Orange is an heirloom species native to parts of China and Korea, cultivated for thousands of years for both ornamental and edible purposes, as well as traditional medicinal uses. These deciduous plants range in form from shrub to small tree and respond well to pruning, allowing them to either bush out or be trimmed into tree form.

In warmer months, the Hardy Orange showcases glossy dark green leaves, transitioning to jazzy yellow shades in the fall. The fruit remains on the tree throughout winter if not harvested, adding lasting visual interest. The leaves emit a pleasant fragrance, complemented by large, showy 2-inch white spring flowers with pink stamens that attract bees and butterflies.

Adaptable to a wide range of conditions, these plants tolerate heat and drought well and are not particular about soil type, thriving in everything from heavy clay to sandy and nutritionally poor soils. Optimal fruit production occurs in full sun, but part shade is also sufficient. The presence of thorns makes these plants deer and rabbit resistant and ideal for security-type hedgerows.

Though there is some debate, the Hardy Orange is often classified within the citrus family due to the bitter, citrus-like taste of its fruit, which can be eaten raw, made into juice or jelly, or used in various recipes. Fruits start green and ripen to a deep yellow, measuring 2 to 2 ½ inches in diameter and are covered in light fuzz. They are high in Vitamin C, and each plant can produce up to 30 pounds of fruit in a season.