Daidaihua Pictures: Get to Know the Pure White, Fragrant Citrus Blossom

Daidaihua (Citrus aurantium var. amara, the bitter orange variety also known as daidai) is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the Rutaceae family, genus Citrus. It is a variety of bitter orange and is also called huiqingcheng or daidai. Its flowers are pure white and intensely fragrant, and their appearance closely resembles the familiar orange blossom, so many people only realize after looking at pictures that this flower is actually quite familiar.

In the pictures, the flowers of daidaihua mostly have five petals in pure white, with pale yellow stamens, and often open in clusters at the tips of the branches. The branches bear a few sharp thorns, and the leaves are elliptical and leathery, staying green all year round. Its fruit is the most distinctive feature: after ripening, the rind turns orange-red, and if it is never picked, it turns green again the following spring. Fruits from several generations can hang on the same tree at the same time, which is how daidaihua got its name.

In terms of uses, daidaihua is one of the traditional scenting ingredients for flower tea. Daidaihua tea has a delicate fragrance and is often mentioned alongside jasmine tea. The dried flower buds can also be used as a traditional Chinese medicinal material, and specific usage should follow professional guidance. As an ornamental plant, it is enjoyed both for its flowers and its fruit, and is suitable for planting in the ground in courtyards or growing in pots on balconies.

When browsing pictures of daidaihua, pay special attention to the five-petaled white flowers, the thorns on the branches and the fruit turning green again, so as to distinguish it from similar citrus flowers such as lemon blossoms and pomelo blossoms. Some pictures online easily mix up daidaihua with finger citron and citron, so when looking at images it is best to make a comprehensive judgment based on the morphological features of the fruit.