Trifoliate Orange
Citrus Triptera
In the Sforza garden of Villa Miralfiore, a specimen of Citrus Triptera, or Trifoliate Orange, features spiny branches and trifoliate leaves. This deciduous plant, native to East Asia, grows up to 4-5 meters tall, with fragrant white flowers and decorative but bitter fruits. Often used as a rootstock, it is prized for its resilience and ornamental beauty.
Originating from China and Korea, the Citrus triptera or Trifoliate Orange is a shrub in the citrus group with deciduous leaves. It has elegantly twisted branches, covered in long, strong, flattened, and pointed thorns that can grow up to 7-8 cm long.
Unlike all other citrus fruits, it is not evergreen. It can withstand cold temperatures (down to -20°C), and the skin of its non-edible fruit is slightly hairy. The leaves are trifoliate, with a central leaf that can grow up to 5 cm in length, and two smaller side leaves.
