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One citrus tree growing inside the other

12 years ago

I have some sort of orange tree growing inside of my mandarine tree. It's 5 years old and neither one has beared fruit yet.I'm assuming it's some sort of orange tree because it has long needle like thorns. It was bought at a nursery and just keeps getting bigger and bigger. It's now taller than my mandarine. The mandarine is a lot leafier than the other unidentified one and they both look healthy.

Should I try to pry it out to remove it? I'm afraid I will lose my madarine because the roots are right in the middle of the root ball. I would like to know if anyone knows what type of orange this is and should I remove it?

Thanks for your time and have a nice day.

https://picasaweb.google.com/alineandbruce/MandarineAndOtherTree?authkey=Gv1sRgCIzWs77vt8CBtAE#

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Comments (3)

johnmerr
12 years ago
Heidiho,

The tall, strange part growing in the center is from the rootstock; it comes from below the bud line/graft line. Cut it out; and your mandarin should begin to grow again.
citrange2
12 years ago
As Johnmerr says, it is growth from the rootstock. Notice that it has tri-foliate leaves. This means it is either Poncirus trifoliata, or a hybrid of Poncirus trifoliata with a true citrus. These trifoliate plants provide disease-resistance and some cold-hardiness to the fruiting top variety. Their own fruits are extremely bitter - almost uneatable.
The trifoliate plant should be pruned right back if you want the mandarin the grow properly. You should cut it back to the main stem, or to a root if it emerges from below ground level.
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heidiho
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks so very much for the info. I will remove it.

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