Poncirus trifoliata Seeds | Trifoliate Orange
LATIN NAME: Poncirus trifoliata
COMMON NAME: Trifoliate Orange
Plant Profile
Known to gardeners as Trifoliate Orange, Poncirus trifoliata is a shrub in the rue family. Trifoliate orange holds its three-part leaves and small, white, fragrant flowers, twigs carrying fine, green, flattened spines, and the whole shrub stands in the dense, thorny clumps. It is a shrub of open, sunny, deep, rich, moist, well-drained ground. Add these qualities together and you have a species well worth a place in the garden.
Science & Biotechnology
Within the rue family, Poncirus trifoliata is of continuing interest to researchers working on plant diversity, seed biology and the selection of improved garden forms. Contemporary seed practice means a grower can raise it confidently with standard techniques.
Uses & Benefits
Gardeners value Trifoliate Orange for its ornamental character, and the plant also fits naturally into herb, vegetable and cutting gardens. Trifoliate orange is a fine, bright shrub of warm garden and study collection. It is a fine, bright shrub of open, sunny, deep, rich, moist, well-drained garden. Give young shrubs deep, rich, moist bed, and fragrant flowers will come in years to come. After the first season it asks for very little beyond a place that suits it.
The hardy orange’s young fruits, Zhi Shi and Zhi Ke, are major Chinese qi-moving digestive herbs, rich in the flavonoids hesperidin and synephrine; the thorny trifoliate stock also anchors citrus grafts worldwide.
Growing from Seed
Trifoliate Orange is one of those generous plants that come along well from seed. Sow thinly on the surface of a loose, well-drained seed compost, cover lightly, water in gently and keep the tray in a sunny spot with even moisture. Shift the seedlings into small pots as soon as they can be handled, and give them bright light until planting-out time.
Our Take
Trifoliate Orange repays a little patience at sowing time with plenty of garden presence later.
Related Reading
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