Trying to ID citrus tree

[robtakendall]

Hi all, I came here once before and you helped me ID a floss silk tree. At the time I thought it was something from another planet. : )

I have a citrus tree in my back yard that I simply cannot ID. I've rented this house for a little over two years. The tree was neglected for years before I moved in. I've been feeding and pruning it since I came here, but nary a sign of one single blossom. The leaves are coming back very well; just looked on a citrus ID site and the leaves are very large, new growth is green (not bronze), no petiole wings on the leaves, leaf stems are very short (1/2 - 3/4"),and it has very large thorns on branches and on the trunk.

The trunk itself is about 5" in diameter. I have wondered if the entire tree could be a sucker since I have seen no fruit and no blossoms. New branches are always coming out but still no blossoms. I am wondering if I could have a sterile tree of some kind.

Also there is a very small stump at the base of the trunk, could that have been the original tree? That's why I wonder if the tree could be a sucker. I will try to attach some pics. Thanks in advance, Roberta

 

[Kate Butler]

my best guess

OK, I'm just guessing, but I'm going to go with bitter orange, Citrus aurantium.

It's spiny and the fruit is all but inedible. But many uses in medicine and parfumerie.

 

[robtakendall]

ID Citrus Tree?

I have thought about that, but still there are no blossoms and no fruit....is that normal?

Roberta

 

[Kate Butler]

citrus ID

Normal?? Hard to tell. How tall is it? How big is the "small stump"? If the trunk of the curent tree is 5", that's certainly big enough to fruit. You need a citrus specialist. I would call your local garden centers and pick their brains to locate someone who specializes in citrus. Then, a road trip - with samples of leaves and twigs- to speak with this person.

 

[robtakendall]

Hi Kate, I attached a pic of the trunk with the small stump....but thanks for the advice, I'll see if I can take a sample to a local nursery. I should think it's old enough to have blossoms of some kind.

Roberta