Poncirus Trifoliate Orange

The one and only member of the Poncirus family - Poncirus trifoliata - is a large shrub to small dense tree native to open woodlands of northern China and Korea. This Citrus relative is grown for winter interest as result of its deep green branches with stout thorns. Dense and fast growing; it can grow to 3 feet in a single year and reach 20 x 10 feet in 10 years. It rarely grows larger, thought the largest on record is 40 feet tall and wide with a trunk diameter of 1.5 feet. A 26 foot tree grows in Harrisburg, PA.
The trifoliate leaves are made of 3 leaflets to 3.5 inches in length. The leathery deep green foliage turns to glowing yellow during autumn.
The fragrant flowers are solitary and white to 2 inches. They appear in late spring on second year wood and sometimes repeat bloom in the fall. The fruit is orange like but not edible with little flesh. It is green turning to orange when ripe.
Hardy from zone 5 to 9; it can tolerate as low as -22 F. Prefers full sun though tolerate part shade and needs well drained, fertile soil and is best protected from excessive wind. Very drought tolerant.

* photos taken on Sep 27 2013 in Laurel, MD

Flying Dragon
to 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide with twisted branches

* photo taken in Columbia, MD on Feb 2010

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* photos taken on April 2 2010 in Columbia, MD



* photo taken on April 11 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum





* photos taken on Mar 23 2011 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photos taken on Mar 8 2013 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD