Over time, growers have bred oranges to be less thorny. Today, most varieties are either thornless or have thin, blunt, flexible thorns found only at the base of the leaves. ... The hardy or trifoliate orange tree, for example, features sharp, 2-inch long thorns and sour fruit.

Why does my orange tree have thorns on it?

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.

Should my orange tree have thorns?

Orange tree stems are frequently armed with thorns, which are most numerous and prominent before trees begin bearing fruit. ... Some orange tree cultivars tend to have fewer thorns; even within cultivars, there may be differences in thorniness. In general, orange trees grown from seeds tend to be the thorniest.