Other Names:  Citrus Myrtifolia

Description:

A compact tree with small, myrtle-like leaves and no thorns, producing clusters of fruit in late winter; this cultivar is used to make the Italian soda beverage known as Chinotto; a great landscape accent or border screen; protect from frost

Ornamental Features

Chinotto Myrtle-leaved Orange features showy clusters of fragrant white star-shaped flowers with buttery yellow eyes at the ends of the branches from late spring to mid summer. It has attractive dark green evergreen foliage. The small glossy pointy leaves are highly ornamental and remain dark green throughout the winter. It features an abundance of magnificent orange berries with yellow overtones from mid winter to early spring. The fruit can be messy if allowed to drop on the lawn or walkways, and may require occasional clean-up.

This plant is primarily grown as an ornamental, but it's also valued for its edible qualities. The round sour fruit is most often used in the following ways:

• Eating When Cooked/Prepared
• Preserves

Landscape Attributes

Chinotto Myrtle-leaved Orange is a multi-stemmed evergreen tree with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting birds, bees and butterflies to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Chinotto Myrtle-leaved Orange is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Hedges/Screening
• Orchard/Edible Landscaping
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Chinotto Myrtle-leaved Orange will grow to be about 12 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 12 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 2 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more.

This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

Chinotto Myrtle-leaved Orange is a fine choice for the yard, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Its large size and upright habit of growth lend it for use as a solitary accent, or in a composition surrounded by smaller plants around the base and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.