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[2nd Image]
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| Category: Shrub |
| Family: Pittosporaceae (Pittosporums) |
| Origin: Australia (Australasia) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: White |
| Bloomtime: Spring |
| Synonyms: [C. pauciflorus, Pittosporum spinescens] |
| Height: 4-6 feet |
| Width: 3-5 feet |
| Exposure: Cool Sun/Light Shade |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 15-20° F |
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Citriobatus spinescens (Orange thorn) - An upright open evergreen shrub to 4 to 6 feet tall with hairy branches bearing many narrow spine-like thorns and shiny small rounded green leaves. In the spring appear small white flowers in the leaf axils that are followed by edible bright orange, thick-shelled berries. The flavor of the berries is described as very mild and slightly sweet. Plant in coastal sun to shade and water occasionally to regularly. While cold tolerance of this plant is not well documented it has proven hardy to frost at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Canberra and likely can tolerate temperatures into the high teens ° F. Orange thorn has long gone by the botanical name Citriobatus spinescens or C. pauciflorus but the recent treatment in the Flora of Australia puts this plant in the genus Pittosporum (Pittosporum spinescens (F.Muell.) L.W.Cayzer, Crisp & I.Telford). Other common names are wallaby apple and native orange. It comes from moist scrublands of north-eastern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland. This plant can attract birds and butterflies to the garden.
This information about Citriobatus spinescens displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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