October Tree of the Month-Hardy Orange

My Aunt Grace and Uncle Ab lived in Burbank, California, with a tiny walled garden behind their bungalow. Their two most prized plants in that garden were a lemon tree and an orange tree. Growing up in the Midwest, my Aunt Grace thought the most amazing thing in the world was being able to go out your back door and pick an orange for breakfast or a lemon for your tea. When they visited St. Louis, they always brought an extra suitcase full of oranges.

Here in St. Louis, you would be disappointed if you picked fruit from the hardy orange, Poncirus trifoliata, and tried to enjoy it at breakfast. The fruits that ripen in the fall are beautiful in a bowl on your table but have such a high seed-to-flesh ratio that the most you can hope for are marmalades or jams. The fruit is dense and heavy for its small size, and one fallen fruit left in your garden bed can turn ugly to the point I would consider this plant just shy of a garden thug since EVERY SINGLE SEED GERMINATES.

Then, just in time for Halloween, there are the wicked, Burtonesque thorns that would make Morticia Addams swoon. The fragrant white flowers in spring can be showy, as is the deep green of the thorny stems and the dark, glossy green of the tri-foliate leaves.

Hardy orange is another woody plant that blurs the line between tree and shrub. If left untouched, it can form a dense, shrubby thicket. Pruned, it can be an excellent specimen tree, which works better in most gardens since it can reach 8-20′. Full sun is preferred, but it will do fine in partial shade without sacrificing flowers or fruit.

The ‘Monstrosa’ cultivar has more pronounced twisted stems and a shorter height. It is sometimes sold as the ‘Flying Dragon’, which has a contorted habit and dwarf size.

Hardy orange is a definite conversation starter. Even non-plant-geeks notice it for either the bright fruit or the impressive thorns. I’m doubtful my Aunt Grace would approve of this Midwest citrus substitution, but the cheery yellow fruits make any crisp Autumn day warmer and sunnier.

What I love about this plant:

–Showy, fragrant flowers in spring

-Beautiful fruit in fall.

-Impressive thorns.

-Deep green, glossy foliage.

-Can be a shrub or a tree.

-Drought tolerant.

What’s not so great:

-The sizeable thorns can be dangerous, especially at eye level. However, trimmed Poncirus stems make for excellent rabbit protection when placed around and among rabbit favorites like lilies, asters, etc., or to deter squirrels from digging in containers. Remember where they are before you step or weed near them. Letting it form a thicket will provide a fairytale-worthy impenetrable barrier if so desired.

-The beautiful fruits can be messy and hazardous on walkways. Since the seeds germinate easily, they can turn into a maintenance issue. I keep a “drop pot” near the tree for the fallen fruit to keep the flower beds and paths clear. The perfectly round fruit will roll quite a distance, so think “Easter egg hunt” and be thorough in your search under garden foliage and evergreens.

Comments or questions? Email Garden-Lou at gardenloustl@gmail.com

Words and photos by Jo Batzer

© Jo Batzer, garden-lou.com-2024, All rights reserved.