Flying dragon (Poncirus trifoliata)

Sun to light shade, Zones 5-9. Our hardiest citrus. Protect from winter wind if possible.

 

Soil tolerant, but prefers fertile, well drained soil. Drought tolerant once established.

 

’Flying Dragon’ is a contorted, semi-dwarfish variety of the species. Grows to 7 feet tall by 5 feet wide, but can easily be controlled with pruning. The prunings are spectacular in dried arrangements. Self fertile

 

These thorny, contorted plants make excellent specimen plants or additions to a garden border. They have wonderfully fragrant white flowers in the spring, dark green trifoliate leaves and green younger stems for winter interest, and fragrant 2” yellow sour citrus fruits in late summer and fall. When planted close together, they can create an impenetrable living wall.

 

The small, fragrant citrus fruit is quite sour and seedy but makes a good glass of lemonade. The fruit and skin makes good marmalade and the skin can be dried and used for flavoring in cooking. But perhaps most intriguing is its use in oriental medicine. The extensive list of ailments for which poncirus is prescribed includes typhoid, toothache, hemorrhoids, conjunctivitis, colds, and itchy skin.

 

$33.00 / 1 gal.