Call us: 0800 843 752Free shipping for orders $150 or over
Gift Vouchers

Flying Dragon Citrus (Bitter Orange)

The Flying Dragon Citrus is a variety of the commonly known Bitter Orange. This evergreen shrub produces white flowers during early spring, which result in yellow fruits not much bigger than a golf ball in autumn. The edible fruit is full of seeds and has little pulp. They are borne amidst the dark green foliage, which has stems boasting large thorns. It typically grows to 2 m tall and the same wide, performing best when planted in full sun on a well-drained site, protected from frost. It will generally tolerate moderate frost once established. “Flying Dragon” is commonly grown as an interesting hedge, where the thorns deter animals and people passing through.

A Flying Dragon citrus shrub with orange fruit.

Citrus Flying Dragon is currently unavailable, but we do have other other amazing species and varieties of Citrus available.

explore them here

Notify me when this is available:
Please enter your email address below if you would like to know when it becomes available again.

Suited to regions:Subtropical, Temperate
Plant type:Citrus
Height:2.00 m
Spread:2.00 m
Flowering time:Spring
Tolerances:Coastal, Hardy
Garden uses:Hedging
Garden styles:Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Formal, Frontyard, Modern
Easy to grow?Yes
Maintenance requirementsLow
Growth rateMedium
Also known as
Sku16516

Are Flying Dragon oranges edible?

Flying Dragon oranges are technically edible, but not palatable. The fruit is slight, seedy, very sour, and bitter with a strong resinous flavour, more like a lemon than an orange. It is not typically eaten fresh but can be used in small amounts for marmalade, flavouring, or herbal remedies. The plant is primarily grown as a hardy, thorny rootstock or ornamental shrub, rather than for its fruit.

How to care for a flying dragon plant?

To care for a Flying Dragon plant (Poncirus trifoliata ‘Flying Dragon’), choose a sunny, well-drained spot in the garden. It tolerates a range of soils but prefers slightly acidic conditions. Water regularly during the first growing season to establish strong roots, then reduce watering once the plant is established, as it is drought-tolerant. Prune to shape in winter if necessary, and remove any suckers that form below the graft. It’s cold-hardy, requires minimal feeding, and can be grown as a striking specimen or an impenetrable hedge.

Questions and Answers

Have a question about Citrus Flying Dragon? We are here to help.

Citrus australasica (Finger Lime) fruit with yellow flesh cut in half.
Most Popular Citrus australasica

Citrus australasica, commonly known as the Finger Lime or Caviar Lime, is an evergreen shrub grown for its unusual fruit, which is regarded as a food...

From$28.28
A Citrus medica sarcodactylis (Buddha's Hand) yellow fruit.
Most Popular Citrus medica sarcodactylis

Citrus medica sarcodactylis, commonly known as the Buddha's Hand tree, is a variety of citrus grown for its very unusual fruit, which ripens in...

Citrus junos (Yuzu Citrus) fruit cut in half.
Most Popular Citrus junos

Citrus junos (Yuzu Citrus) is a distinctive citrus tree prized for its aromatic fruit with a unique sharp flavour highly valued in cooking and...

Citrus rootstock for sale.
Most Popular Citrus Rootstock

Citrus Rootstock is an essential choice for grafting citrus trees, providing a strong foundation that enhances vigour, disease resistance, and...

Orange 'Washington Navel' orange fruit.
Most Popular Orange 'Washington Navel'

The ‘Washington Navel’ orange is the most famous navel orange variety, celebrated for its sweet flavour, seedless fruit, and easy-to-peel skin. This...

From$299.92
'Satsuma' Mandarin fruit.
Most Popular Mandarin 'Satsuma'

'Satsuma' is a very popular Mandarin variety because of its great taste, easy-to-peel fruit, and short stature. The fruit ripens in winter and is...

'Encore' Mandarin fruit.
Most Popular Mandarin 'Encore'

Mandarin ‘Encore’ is a popular late-season variety that produces sweet, richly flavoured fruit with a thin, easy-to-peel skin. Harvested from late...

'Meyer' Lemon yellow fruit.
Most Popular Lemon 'Meyer'

The ‘Meyer’ Lemon is a much-loved citrus variety known for its sweeter, less acidic flavour compared to standard lemons. The thin-skinned fruit is...

From$43.13
Start your garden with Aesculus Briotii and Apodasmia similis (Oi Oi), and add depth with lesser-known gems like Pear Winter Cole (Winter Cole Pear), Hypocyrta tropicana, and Camellia 'Volcano'.
–The Plant Company

Explore Garden Inspiration

Sign up to receive a free $10 Voucher You won’t be bombarded with emails, just titbits of quality information from time to time Sign up
Free shipping on orders over $150!

Join our community of happy customers.

4.8

445 Google reviews