Orangefruit Horse-gentian
Triosteum aurantiacum
Last reviewed: August 2026
Triosteum aurantiacum, or orangefruit horse-gentian, is a woodland forb that blooms from May through July, favoring part shade and medium moisture in eastern and midwestern forests, thickets, and woodland edges.
Toxicity unknown
Orangefruit Horse-gentian (Triosteum aurantiacum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
part shade
Water
medium
Size
12"–36" H × 12"–24" W
Bloom
May, Jun, Jul
Native to
AR, CT, DE, GA and 26 more states
Pollinators
bees, beetles
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
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Orangefruit horse-gentian is a perennial that grows 1-3 feet tall with broad, opposite leaves and small reddish flowers in late spring and early summer. The plant produces distinctive bright orange berries in fall that give it its common name.
Growing Orangefruit Horse-gentian
Grow Orangefruit Horse-gentian in part shade and medium water. Mature plants reach 12 to 36 inches tall and spread 12 to 24 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Orangefruit Horse-gentian takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Coarse, weedy appearance that doesn't match typical landscaping expectations
- Large leaves and informal growth habit look unkempt to many homeowners
- Uncommon plant that HOAs may not recognize as intentional landscaping
Wildlife value
This plant attracts bees and beetles during its May through July bloom period. The orange berries provide food for birds in late summer and fall.
Common questions
- When does orangefruit horse-gentian bloom?
- It flowers from May through July, producing small tubular blossoms clustered close to the stem.
- What pollinates Triosteum aurantiacum?
- Bees and beetles visit the flowers of orangefruit horse-gentian for nectar and pollen.
- What growing conditions suit this plant best?
- It does well in part shade with medium soil moisture, often found along woodland edges, thickets, and shaded slopes.
- Is Orangefruit Horse-gentian HOA-friendly?
- Orangefruit Horse-gentian takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Orangefruit Horse-gentian? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.