Poncirus trifoliata

Ever have an old uncle who's not much to look at but is tough as nails? He's usually one of the most beloved members of the family.

Reminds me of Poncirus trifoliata with its somewhat scary appearance, but you warm up to it once you see its qualities. The first thing you notice about hardy orange is the fishhooks it has for thorns and its odd, contorted shape.

But watch it through the seasons. In spring it sports white, fragrant flowers. Its summer foliage is shiny and dark green. In autumn it sheds its leaves to show off its glossy-green stems. Fruit, which is very sour, also adds fall interest.

"It's not for the faint of heart," said Mike Schnelle, Oklahoma State University associate professor and extension ornamental/floriculture specialist. "I wouldn't plant one in my yard because I have young children. But it's a nice plant that has never been utilized properly."

Great barrier teeth

P. trifoliata hedges have been planted throughout the Oklahoma State campus at Stillwater and are maintained at 2 1/2 to 3 feet. The barriers are unchallenged by students who might otherwise seek shortcuts to class.

"Even a dumb football player wouldn't try to go through them," Schnelle said.

But the plant can also be an interesting specimen, particularly the cultivar 'Flying Dragon,' which was selected for its twisting form. Don Shadow, owner of Shadow Nursery in Winchester, Tenn., grows 'Flying Dragon' and said it's popular with zoos.

Shadow field-grows the selection and said it's easy to produce. He recommends growing single-stemmed specimens or trimming multiple-stemmed plants at least a foot from the base. This makes tying balls easier. During shipping he places cardboard between plants to keep them from becoming intertwined.

He grows the species from seed and roots cuttings to propagate 'Flying Dragon.' He collects cuttings from the most contorted specimens of his stock.

P. trifoliata is hardy to 0F-minus 10F, though selection could lead to more cold-tolerant strains, Schnelle said.

Pucker up?

But what about those fall fruits? Are those sour things full of seeds really worth eating? Yes, even NMPRO editor David Morgan remembers drinking Poncirus-ade as a youth on his family's South Texas ranch.

Shadow has a recipe for making this refreshment -- one orange, a barrel of water and a barrel of sugar.

Specifics

Name: Poncirus trifoliate

Common name: Hardy orange, trifoliate orange, bitter orange.

{sidebar id=28}

Family: Rutaceae.

Description: A dense, thorny, sometimes contorted shrub reaching 8-20 feet high. Stems are bright green and leaves are shiny dark green changing to yellow-green in fall. White spring flowers are fragrant. Fruits are edible, though very sour, and 1 1/2 inches across.

Uses: It's a great barrier plant and can be trimmed to form a 3-foot hedge. It can also be used as a novelty specimen. It is also used as citrus rootstock.

Pests and diseases: None serious.

Hardiness: 0F-minus 10F.

Propagation: Seeds and cuttings.

For more: Don Shadow, Shadow Nursery, 254 Shadow Nursery Road, Winchester, TN 37398-3247; (931) 967-6059; fax (931) 967-6079. Mike Schnelle, 438 Agricultural Hall, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078; (405) 744-7361; fax (405) 744-9709; e-mail masokway.okstate.edu

- Todd Davis