Flying Dragon Bitter Orange

Poncirus trifoliata   With an aggressive, remarkable appearance that lives up to its name, the Flying Dragon Bitter Orange is a member of the Trifoliate Orange Trees. They feature a very unique fruit, wavy and contorted talon sized thorns which paired with its lovely three-point leaves create a graphic presentation of a dragon in flight. They are easy to grow. They do very well in small containers as bonsai or topiaries and you can also use them as the ultimate hedge utilizing their natural thorns to create a rather unwelcoming, but interesting barrier to deter pests and intruders while adding beauty and drawing interest to your landscape. They do best in full sun but can do well in partly shaded areas. Hardy in zones 5 through 9, they leaf out and flower in the spring. Eventually when matured they can grow upwards of 8 feet high and 6 feet wide and will produce littler fruit as its name suggests. Regardless of your purposes and placement of this plant, it brings an exotic and interesting appeal in any setting and will definitely set your landscape apart during the winter months where its curved stems and thorns take flight.