Chinese bitter orange

Only Thorns: No Blooms nor Fruit

| Flower Roberts

Does this sound like a shrub you could love?
I have grown two small trees/shrubs of Poncirius trifoliata from seeds. I purloined the fruit from a Chinese bitter orange tree during a trip to Charleston years ago.

It’s the thorns that got me.

I did not covet it for its fruit nor its blooms. It was its thorns that captivated me.

Poncirius trifoliata thorns


Here is a little tree that can take care of itself. No forager is going to steal its fruit!


I know it can be invasive. I know it is a touch-me-not plant. I do not care if it ever blooms or produces fuzzy, little bitter oranges. I would never make marmalade anyway!

Poncirius: A plant not to be petted.
Not invasive since no fruit…yet.

I love it because it has unmistakable, impenetrable, unapologetic bounderies. This plant screams DO NOT MESS WITH ME!

That is why I love it.

FLOW

The Purloined Poncirus

| Flower Roberts

I must confess to stealing a fruit from a Chinese Bitter Orange tree on a South Carolina plantation many years ago. I need to bare my soul of picking the little citrus and stuffing it into my bra.
I forgot about this stolen cargo until late that night, as I was changing my clothes the shriveled little fruit fell out and rolled across the floor.

Why I felt the need to steal seeds from such a mean little tree is beyond me. I think I was impressed by its long, sharp thorns.


Now I have two mean trees of my own. With equally long and strong thorns.

No fruit yet.
Such is the life of a plant addict. A pinch here…a pick there…

Stashing precious cargo in pockets and undergarments.

Such are the crimes of the afflicted.

FLOW

An Orange and a Rose

| Flower Roberts

I found two treasures while touring Magnolia Plantation in Charleston, South Carolina.

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The first is a hardy orange tree called Chinese Bitter Orange.  Its scientific name is Poncirus trifoliata.

It has long, tough thorns.

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The fruit is not edible alone, but may be used in marmalade or condiments.

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The second is called Confederate Rose. It is a tree hibiscus also called Giant Rose Mallow.

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Its scientific name is Hibiscus mutabilis.

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There were thousands of plants on this lovely plantation.

These two were my favorites.

FLOWER