Hardy Orange Tree Citrus trifoliata 'Flying Dragon'
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Poncirus trifoliata 'Flying Dragon'
- Phonetic Spelling
- SI-trus try-FOH-lee-ah-tah
- Description
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'Flying Dragon' is one of the most cold-hardy cultivars of orange trees. This tree's parent plant is native to China and is in the Rutaceae (citrus) family. This shrub can grow 8 to 15 feet tall, rarely 20 feet, and 16-20 feet wide. This dense shrub has crooked branches covered in large downward curved spines. It blooms in spring with citrus-scented flowers that produce fuzzy fruits that are very sour.
'Flying Dragon' can grow in sun to part shade in average well-drained soils. The fruits will reseed, so this plant is often grown in a container to prevent this. It can be used to form an impenetrable hedge also and adds winter interest.
The very sour fruits can't be eaten raw but can be used to make jams and jellies. They are high in vitamin C and antioxidants.
Citrus trifoliata is considered invasive in AL, GA, and SC. Please consider planting native plants.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common citrus insect and related pests.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Citrus
- Species:
- trifoliata
- Family:
- Rutaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Asia
- Edibility:
- Very sour but can be cooked to make juice, jams, jellies or marmalade.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 16 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Irregular
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
- Appendage:
- Spines
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Orange
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Fuzzy golf ball-sized fruits are green maturing to yellow-orange
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- 1-2 inch flowers are white with a yellow stigma and anthers. They have 4-7petals, grow singly and appear in April- May
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Shiny green leaves are ovate in shape. They are compound leaves with 3 leaflets that have serrate margins.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Twigs are glabrous the first year then turn striate. Branches are crooked with many large downturned spines
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Hedge
- Problems:
- Spines/Thorns
