Spiny-leaved Monkey-orange Care

Kaffir orange is a thorny, often multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub or small tree with a rounded crown; it usually grows around 4 - 5 metres tall, but specimens up to about 10 metres have been recorded.The tree produces a popular fruit that is commonly harvested from the wild for local use. It also provides a range of medicines, an insect repellent and materials for local use. The plant is often left growing when the forest is cleared for cultivation. It is an old African crop that has been derived from wild material with poisonous fruits. Various cultivated races with palatable and delicious fruits have been developed over time. It is cultivated for its edible fruit in W Africa, Madagascar and S Florida, and has been introduced into Israel for trial as a potential new commercial crop