What Kind of Plant Is the Bitter Orange (Daidaihua)? An Introduction to Its Characteristics and Care

The daidaihua is a variety of bitter orange (Citrus aurantium) in the rue family, Rutaceae, and the genus Citrus. It is an evergreen shrub or small tree, also called huiqingcheng or daidai in many regions. Its branches and leaves are deep green, the branches often bear short thorns, and the plant has a neat, upright shape. It is both a common ornamental fruit plant and well suited to being grown as a potted plant on patios and balconies.

Its name has an interesting origin. This plant blooms with pure white, intensely fragrant flowers in spring, and after flowering it produces fruit that turns from green to orange and hangs on the branches for a long time without dropping. By the following summer, the fruit that ripened the previous year slowly turns back to green, so old and new fruit hang on the same tree, as if several generations were living together under one roof. This is how it got the name daidaihua, and in folk tradition it is also regarded as a symbol of good fortune and prosperity.

For care, the daidaihua likes a warm, humid environment with plenty of sunlight, and it is best grown in loose, fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. During the growing season, keep the potting soil moist but not waterlogged; overwatering easily causes root rot and yellow leaves. Before and after flowering and fruiting, you can add a light fertilizer as appropriate to help the plant produce more flowers and set fruit reliably. Its cold tolerance is only average, so in winter it should be moved indoors or to a spot sheltered from the wind and facing the sun, and attention should be paid to ventilation and light to reduce fruit drop and pest and disease problems.

Besides its ornamental value, the daidaihua has many other uses. Its flowers can be used to scent flower tea, and when dried and brewed they have a delicate fragrance; the flowers and fruit can also be used to extract flavorings and essential oils, and the peel has certain medicinal value in traditional use. Because it is attractive both for its flowers and its fruit, the daidaihua has long been one of the most popular potted flowering plants for the home.