Trifoliate orange, Japanese bitter orange
Citrus trifoliata

Family: Rutaceae

What it is like

A small to medium sized tree. It grows 2-4 m tall. It has many branches. It is thorny. It loses its leaves. The flower buds form in summer then over-winter on the bare branches. The flowers are white. They are 4-5 cm across. The fruit are small and like citrus. They become yellow when ripe.

It is used as rootstock for other citrus. There are 20 Citrus species. Several hybrids have been formed.

Where it is found

It grows on chalk soils. It can grow on heavy clay soils with poor drainage. It is very cold hardy. In Brisbane Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 5-11.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Balkans, Britain, Central Asia, China, Europe, Hawaii, India, Japan, Korea, Macedonia, Mexico, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Philippines, SE Asia, Taiwan, Tajikistan, USA

How it is used for food

The fruit are used for a syrup used for flavouring. The peel can be candied. The peel makes a spicy flavouring for cakes. The flesh is used for jellies. A drink can be made from the diluted juice. The fruit need to be kept for about 2 weeks to become juicy. Young leaves are occasionally boiled and eaten.

It is a cultivated food plant.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Gou Ju, Gou orange, Karatachi, Naranjo trebol, Naranjo trofoliado

Synonyms

Aegle sepiaria DC.; Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Rafinesque; and others