Flying Dragon Trifoliate or Bitter Orange. This hardy citrus will grow as far north as zone 5. It is deciduous and will produces beautiful citrus-scented white flowers in spring. These are followed by orange fruit up to 2" in diameter which are quite persistent in holding on well into winter. 'Flying Dragon' is a contorted forms of this plant that can best be described as a living piece of sculpture with its weaving branches. It has trifoliate leaves which turn yellow before falling. Because of its cold hardiness, it is often used an an understock for grafting Citrus. The Wicked Stick Gold Club near Myrtle Beach purchased a specimen of this to plant near their clubhouse as their own "wicked stick." It is amazing how many variegated cultivars that the Japanese have of this plant. It can reach 8-12' high and will grow in sun or shade. The species is very popular as a hedging plant because of its thorns it will make an impenetrable barrier, even for a rabbit. When a student at Clemson, we visited Chase Nursery Co., in Chase AL and there was an old hedge there which had been kept pruned to about 5' and several student climbed up on the hedge and walked on it.
