skip to main content

Gardening in the UK

Why does my orange bush have thorns ?

16 years ago

Hi, I planted seeds from an eating orange which are now small bushes but instead of producing blossom, they have fierce thorns about 1/2 to 3/4 inch long. Is this normal? Does anyone know if they will produce fruit eventually? Do orange bushes have genders i.e. is my bush a male maybe?

Thanks.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

vetivert8
16 years ago
It might have just reverted - although some citrus are naturally thorny. Many of the commercial varieties are grafted onto trifoliata rootstock because it is hardier and more disease resistant. It can also be used as a very spiny hedge. Very spiny!

It 'might' flower and fruit - and it could be more like a bitter orange than a sweet Jaffa.
pineresin
16 years ago
Most Citrus plants are thorny.

It will eventually produce flowers and fruit, but your plant may well still be too young; it'll need to be at least 10 years old before it flowers, maybe more. They don't have genders (each flower has both sexes), but for good fruit production, it will need to be cross-pollinated by a different individual (self-pollination, "incest", doesn't work well).

As mentioned, the fruit quality may leave much to be desired.

Resin
Related Discussions
Why won't my lilac bush bloom?
Q
Comments (17)
I moved into a house about 10 yrs ago and there was a huge lilac bush in the front yard, but VERY over grown with branches that hung out every where. I didn't want to cut the bush down because I love lilac but I needed to really trim it. I only cut off branches that looked dead or totally dry nothing that was green and only from the sides nothing from the top so I thought it would be ok (I am no where near a gardening expert) but for the past few years it has gotten less and less bloom. Is it totally gone or do I just need to wait it out. It hasn't gotten a really good bloom in the past 6-7 yrs. I'm wondering if I should just give up but I keep thinking next year it will be better. Any suggestions??
...See More
Thorn bush/tree with oak like leaves?
Q
Comments (3)
Bingo! I think you have figured it out. It definitely looks like a Hawthorn. I bet one of our many bird visitors transplanted it by droppings. I think that I will keep it since the wildlife seem to enjoy it, but maybe I can try moving it to a different area of the yard since it is very close to my walkway right now. Thanks so much for the help!
...See More
Identification of Citrus Thorn Bush
Q
Comments (6)
Almost certainly the trifoliate orange, Poncirus trifoliata. It's closely enough related to true citrus that it is used as an understock for grafting. I don't think eating the fruits would kill you, but there is nothing I'm aware of that would make them in any way pleasant to eat. It's just grown as an ornamental plant, or as a very effective privacy hedge. I've heard that in southern Missouri, it is used around nuclear missile silos, in that it will keep terrorists out better than fences and razor ribbon.
...See More
Why does my Work of Art have thorns?
Q
Comments (6)
I just got Work of Art too. I originally looked into it after reading a claim on this forum that it was thornless and by the time I noticed none of the catalogues called it that I had decided I wanted it anyway. I have been hoping that at least it won't have too many thorns since all my space is high traffic. Right now mine is fresh out of the shipping carton and tiny (and with no thorns for now). How long before yours started to grow and how big is it after 3 months? Mutt
...See More

Related Stories

INSIDE HOUZZ How Much Does a Remodel Cost, and How Long Does It Take?

By Erin Carlyle

The 2016 Houzz & Home survey asked 120,000 Houzzers about their renovation projects. Here’s what they said

MOST POPULAR When Does a House Become a Home?

By Laura Gaskill

Getting settled can take more than arranging all your stuff. Discover how to make a real connection with where you live

GARDENING GUIDES 6 Plants That Beat Butterfly Bush for the Wildlife Draw

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

It's invasive, a nonnative and a poor insect magnet. Check out these better alternatives to butterfly bush in the garden

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Great Design Plant: Old Fashioned Smoke Bush

Balance garden color with this shrub's cool blue-green foliage, luminous when backlit and sporting yellow-green flowers in spring

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Valentine Bush for Heartfelt Winter Color

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Passionate red flowers from winter through spring add gorgeous color to bare Southwest landscapes

DECORATING GUIDES Paint Color Ideas: 7 Bright Ways With Yellow and Orange

By Jennifer Ott Design

Go with the glow. These sample palettes and room examples show you how to work with two of the happiest hues around

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Buddleja Marrubiifolia

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Beautiful color, soft texture and the ability to thrive in the extreme temperatures of the Southwest make woolly butterfly bush a winner

FALL GARDENING 11 Trees for Brilliant Fall Color

By Marianne Lipanovich

Give your landscape the quintessential look of autumn with the red, orange and yellow leaves of these standouts

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Salvia Leucantha

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Soft, velvety purple spikes gracefully arch over the gray-green foliage of Mexican bush sage in spring through fall in western U.S. gardens

FALL GARDENING 5 Fall Fruits You Can Grow in Containers

Brighten your porch or patio with a potted pomegranate, kumquat, blueberry bush or another great fall fruit

Sponsored