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Citron thorn in various sizes 20-100 cm (Citrus trifoliata)
220 SEK
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220 SEK
Unit price perLemon thorn trees in various sizes:
- Height: 20-30 cm
- Height: 80-100 cm
Lemon thorn is self-fertile = only 1 tree is needed for fruit setting
Common names: Lemon thorn, Bitter Orange, Hardy orange, Trifoliate Orange, Japanese Bitter Orange, Karatachi
Scientific name: Citrus trifoliata / Poncirus trifoliata
Family: Rutaceae
Plant history & use:
One of the few citrus plants that truly withstands our climate. An unusual deciduous citrus variety with three-lobed leaves and slightly downy fruits. Originates from northern China.
Easiest to use daily by pressing juice from the fruits – and possibly mixing with water to make a refreshing drink that is said to be very tasty. Tip: grate the peel of the fruits and boil in water together with 'Sweetleaf' leaves to remove the bitterness but still keep the rich flavor of the peel, and add a little sweetness to the drink.
You can also cook marmalade and jelly from the fruits – their rich pectin content makes this a suitable use. The taste is said to be somewhere between a lime and a grapefruit.
Freshly harvested fruits do not contain much juice, but if left about 2 weeks after harvest, the juice content rises to about 20%. Fruits are rich in vitamin C.
Fruit peel is used as flavoring, dried or fresh. The whole fruit can also be sliced and dried to use as seasoning. Younger leaves are edible.
Thorns and bark have historically been used to relieve toothache (Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S.). Bark from the trunk is used against stomach ailments such as bloating, etc.
A tree/shrub can produce up to 14 kg of fruit.
The whole plant, but especially the flowers, are very aromatic. Blooms fragrantly in April-May. Beautiful foliage in autumn. Strikingly beautiful in winter with its yellow fruits on bare branches.
Used as rootstock for other citrus species – adds an extra 3ºC in hardiness to the grafted plant (Natural Food Institute).
Lemon thorn hybridizes readily with other citrus species, making it a good breeding parent if you intend to develop new hardy citrus varieties. Citrange is, for example, a type of hardy orange developed by crossing Lemon thorn with a "regular" orange.
Besides contributing hardiness in breeding programs, Lemon thorn can be used to transfer, among other things: good disease resistance, tolerance to poorer soils, and low-growing traits.
The sharp thorns and bushy growth habit make it very suitable as a boundary hedge.
Cultivation:
Easy to grow. Tolerant of many soil types. Lemon thorn thrives best in well-drained, nutrient-rich, moist, and slightly sandy soil.
Place in sun to partial shade. Lemon thorn is a citrus plant that grows and produces well even as an understory plant shaded part of the day.
Hardy down to -15ºC. Plants have been reported to withstand short periods of temperatures down to -30ºC without damage.
Lemon thorn often has a lifespan of about 25 years. Relatively short-lived, with the advantage that it starts producing fruit earlier than other varieties and produces abundant fertile seeds to raise the next generation of plants in time.
Begins to bear fruit during its 3rd to 5th year.
Characteristics:
Perennial
Light: sun/partial shade
Height: 2-5 meters
Growing zone: 1-2, up to zone 5 in greenhouse
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