Accession Count: 164
Common Name:
sour orange
Family Name:
Rutaceae
Botanical Name:
Citrus x aurantium
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
The Sour Orange is a medium to large sized, fruit bearing, broadleaf, evergreen tree. It can grow to be 10 to 30 feet tall. Often multi-trunked, its bark is smooth, brown, and thorny. Leaves are compound; leaflets 2-6 inches long, oblate, deep green. Forms new foliage starting in January, until April flowering. Flowers are 1/2 inch wide, white, with 5 slender petals. Following flowers, fruits form in summer until mid fall. Fruits are oranges, 3 inches in diameter, with a rough skin. These oranges are typically much more bitter than other varieties.
Compound:
Cit x aur
Geographic Origin:
Asia
Ecozone Origin:
Palearctic
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
This tree was originally grown is eastern Africa and Asia. Now, it is also grown in the Mediterranean and parts of the western United States. It was the first orange to reach the New World.
Cultivation Notes:
The sour orange is grown best in full sun, with moist but not overly wet soil. Water regularly, but leave the soil time to dry out between watering. Moderately frost-tender, but can survive short freezes. Growing season is in late winter and early spring, so be sure that the tree is getting early morning sunlight this time of year so that new branches don't freeze off. Propagates readily from seed.
Ethnobotany:
The sour orange tree was once a common landscaping plant in Tucson because of its aromatic blooms and the fruits - used for making marmalades. Extracts from the rind of sour orange are also on the market as orange zest and dietary and weight loss supplements. It can also be used to treat fungal infections. The blossoms form the basis of Bergamot in the perfume industry. It is used quite extensively as a commercial root stock for the graft propagation of edible citrus species.
Height:
20 - 50 feet
Width:
16 - 20 feet
Growth Rate:
Moderate Growing
Grow Season:
Spring
Flower Season:
ForeSummer
Color:
White
Function:
Shade
Spread:
Spreading
Allergen:
Non-allergenic
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Benign
Hardy:
Semi-hardy
Water Use:
Moderate Water Use
