Hardy Orange Tree ‘Flying Dragon’

One of Nature’s Best Kept Secrets!

Oranges typically grow in the hot and humid climates of the south – but not the Hardy Orange Tree. Also referred to as the Flying Dragon,” this cold-hardy variety takes oranges where they’ve never been before – including temperatures down to -10 degrees!

Plus, the Hardy Orange Tree is drought-tolerant and highly adaptable to various soil and light conditions. Needing little water, little sunlight, and little attention to survive, the Flying Dragon Orange Tree is one of nature’s best-kept secrets.

And while this Hardy Orange Tree won’t produce oranges like you’re used to buying at the grocery store, you’ll still get an abundance of fruit from November to December. The sour fruit is commonly used for marmalade, jams, jellies or candying.

What’s even better? The Hardy Orange Tree puts on a showstopping display of color, texture, and design. Its curved, winding branches are covered with long thorns, creating an intricate puzzle-like look. You’ll get a show of vivid yellow and red in autumn as the leaves turn, and a profusion of fragrant citrus blooms in the spring.

You won’t want to miss out on this one-of-a-kind citrus tree. Get your Hardy Orange Flying Dragon today!

Planting & Care

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

The Flying Dragon Orange Tree 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 tree’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 tree into the hole and carefully backfill, tamping the soil down around the tree’s 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 of the tree to deter weed growth and keep the soil moist.

Watering: Keep the soil around the tree moist, watering once or twice weekly. Once the Flying Dragon 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.

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.

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 withstands pruning well and can be shaped into a small-sized tree if desired.

*BB Tip: While you can eat the oranges this tree will produce, they’re not commonly eaten raw, because they’re quite tart and full of seeds. However, they’re popular for marmalades, savory condiments and juicing – just pick and store them for two weeks prior to squeezing.