Hardy Orange 'Flying Dragon' Tree

1. Planting: First, choose a planting location in full sun (6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day). The plant will tolerate partial shade but its citrus production might be reduced.

Also, the Flying Dragon Trifoliate Orange enjoys well-draining soil but is adaptable to many soil types, growing in clay, sandy loam, and loam.

Keep in mind that the Flying Dragon's thorns make it a great deterrent for unwanted guests. Planted in rows around your property, or even under windows, it can provide an extra sense of security that's also deer and rabbit resistant.

When you're ready to plant, dig a hole that is twice the size of the plant’s root system and just as deep (or select a container, with drainage holes, that's twice the width of your plant's shipped container). Place the plant into the hole and carefully backfill, tamping the soil down around the root system. Finally, apply a 3-inch layer of mulch such as pine needles, bark chips, recycled plastic chunks, or peat moss around the base to deter weed growth and keep the soil moist.

2. Watering: Keep the soil around the plant moist, watering once or twice weekly. Once the Flying Dragon Trifoliate establishes itself, it can typically live on annual rainfall with no supplemental watering required unless a drought occurs.

If you're not sure when to water, simply check the surrounding soil about 2 inches down. If the soil is dry here, it's time to water.

3. Fertilizing: Fertilize annually using a 15–5–19 fertilizer formula, divided into three applications per year: Half applied in July, one quarter applied two months later in September, and the remaining quarter 4 months later, in November.

4. Pruning: Remove any shoots that appear below the graft union (where the two grafted stems join toward the bottom), and remove any dead or damaged branches. The Flying Dragon Trifoliate withstands pruning well and can be shaped into a small-sized tree if desired.

FGT Tip: While you can eat the oranges, few do because they’re quite tart and full of seeds. Nonetheless, there are a few ways to make use of the fruit, including more savory marmalades, or in condiments when dried. And you can make juice when they’re picked and stored for two weeks prior to squeezing.