What does it mean if your lemon tree has thorns?

Why Does My Citrus Plant Have Thorns? The presence of thorns on citrus trees has evolved for exactly the same reason that animals such as hedgehogs and porcupines sport prickly hides– protection from predators, specifically, hungry animals that want to nibble away at the tender leaves and fruit.

Should my lemon tree have thorns?

Lime and lemon trees are both members of genus Citrus and many of them have thorns. However, the presence of thorns on lime and lemon trees is natural and no cause for alarm. As citrus trees grow and mature some lose their thorns while some retain them.

Are lemon thorns poisonous?

Are lemon tree thorns poisonous? The thorns don’t contain any particularly harmful compounds and definitely not poisons. The thorns can puncture your skin. This can introduce micro-organisms that can cause infection or irritation.

Do lemon trees with thorns produce fruit?

Citrus trees often do not begin to produce fruit until they have been planted in the ground for three or more years. ANSWER: Don’t pull them up. Although breeders have tried to reduce the number and size of thorns on named citrus cultivars, most still produce thorns to some degree.

Are there any thorns on a lemon tree?

Lime and lemon trees are both members of genus Citrus and many of them have thorns. However, the presence of thorns on lime and lemon trees is natural and no cause for alarm.

What kind of fruit has thorns on it?

Citrus fruits fall into several categories such as: All are members of the genus Citrus and many of them have thorns on the citrus trees. Classified as a member of the Citrus genus until 1915, at which time it was reclassified into the Fortunella genus, the sweet and tart kumquat is another citrus tree with thorns.

Why are there thorns on my citrus tree?

The presence of thorns on citrus trees has evolved for exactly the same reason that animals such as hedgehogs and porcupines sport prickly hides — protection from predators, specifically hungry animals that want to nibble away at the tender leaves and fruit. Vegetation is most delicate when the tree is young.

What kind of animals are attracted to thorns?

Some birds, notably shrikes, even impale their prey on the thorns and spines of trees. So, you while you can repel some forms of wildlife with thorns, you can also attract desirable critters with thorny trees. As you can see, tree care often means dealing with thorns.