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Citrus medica
Rutaceae FAMILY

Citrus medica

Citrus medica

Edibility
3/5
Medicinal
2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitEvergreen Shrub
Growth—

Three main climates are suitable for commercial citrus production - tropical climates, subtropical with winter rain such as in the Mediterranean and semitropical with summer rainfall as found in Florida and southern Brazil[1]. Prefers a deep, well-drained but moisture-retentive loamy soil in full sun[1]. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 - 7, tolerating 5.5 - 8[1, 2]. Prefers a position sheltered from strong winds[2]. In the tropics, citron grows very well at elevations below 1,300 metres[3]. The optimal temperatures for cultivation range between 15 - 27°c, with the coldest month having an average minimum of at least 15°c[1]. Growth generally ceases below 13°c and above 35°c[1]. Fruits are killed if the temperature falls to -2°c, whilst the leaves are killed at -9°c[2]. If there are dry periods of more than three months, then irrigation will be necessary[1]. Citron is very sensitive to frost and to intense heat and drought; it is the tenderest of all Citrus species[3]. The tree has a short life cycle compared with other citrus species. It starts producing when 2 - 3 years old, reaches a maximum in 8 - 15 years and has an economical life of 25 - 30 years[3, 2]. Mature trees produce about 40 kg fruit per year, but yields up to 100 kg per year per tree have been obtained[3]. Citron cultivars are divided into two groups:- Acid cultivars. These have pinkish floral buds and shoots, acid pulp and a dark inner seed-coat and chalazal spot[3]. Non Acid cultivars. These are without pinkish floral buds and shoots, with non-acid pulp, a colourless inner seed-coat and a pale-yellow chalazal spot. In China, Japan, Indo-China and India, Citrus medica L. Var. Sarcodactylis (Noot.) Swingle is widely cultivated. It is the fingered citron or Buddha's Hand Citron, whose fruit is split into a number of finger-like sections, without or with very scanty pulp[3]. It is highly esteemed for its fragrance and beauty and used to perfume rooms and clothing[3]. Grown as a dwarf plant it is also a valued ornamental throughout the Far East[3].

Propagation

The seed is best sown in containers as soon as it is ripe, after thoroughly rinsing it[4, 1]. Sow stored seed in containers as soon as possible]. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 3 weeks at 13°c. Seedlings are liable to damp off so they must be watered with care and kept well ventilated. The seed is usually polyembryonic, two or more seedlings arise from each seed and they are genetically identical to the parent but they do not usually carry any virus that might be present in the parent plant[1]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on until they are 10cm or more tall before planting out into their permanent positions. Cuttings of half-ripe wood in a frame. This species grows easily from cuttings[1]. Citron is usually propagated by leafy cuttings taken from 2-4 year-old branches[3]. Layering in October. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Citrus+medica>

Pollinators

Data unavailable

References

  1. [1]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  2. [2]Ecocrop — http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home ↩︎Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
  3. [3]World Agroforesty Centre — http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ ↩︎An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
  4. [4]Growing from Seed. Volume 4. — Bird. R. (Editor) · Thompson and Morgan. · 1990 · ISBN - ↩︎Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. A good article on Yuccas, one on Sagebrush (Artemesia spp) and another on Chaerophyllum bulbosum.
  5. [5]Trade Winds Fruit — http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/index.htm ↩︎The on-line catalogue of a company selling seeds. Gives descriptions, photos and uses of a very wide range of fruit and other food-producing plants plus ornamentals.
  6. [6]Cornucopia II — Facciola. S. · Kampong Publications, California. · 1998 · ISBN 0-9628087-2-5 ↩︎The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
  7. [7]Ethnobotanical Studies of Useful Trees of District Kotli, Azad Jammu and Kashmir — Muhammad Ajaib & Zaheer-Ud-Din Khan · 2014 · ISBN 2313-206X ↩︎
  8. [8]Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants — http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 ↩︎Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
  9. [9]Dictionary of Economic Plants. — Uphof. J. C. Th. · Weinheim · 1959 · ISBN - ↩︎An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
  10. [10]Medicinal Plants of the Guianas — DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J. · Smithsonian Museum · http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html ↩︎A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region