Hardy citrus (Poncirus trifoliata)
Hardy citrus (Poncirus trifoliata)
The hardy citrus is an interesting plant, a close relative of citrus from China/Korea and fully hardy here in the UK
Hardy Citrus
is a slow growing, deciduous, medium sized shrub reaching about 2 - 3 m in time, often grown as a hedge to which it is well suited. It will grow throughout the UK but is more productive in the south and west.
Self-fertile and easy to grow in sun or part shade and happy in any well drained soil it is decorative all year round; with lush green thorny stems in the winter, beautiful scented white blossom in the spring, glossy three lobed foliage through the summer and of course, oranges in the autumn.
The fruit is anything from 2 - 4 cm with a thick skin, has a bitter flavour though can be used to make marmalade, and the juice, which is more easily extracted a week or two after picking makes a refreshing drink.
The young leaves have been eaten cooked and apparently the thorns are used in the treatment of toothache!