Poncirus trifoliata tree grow and care – tree or shrub of the genus Poncirus also known as Trifoliate orange or Flying dragon tree, Poncirus trifoliata perennial evergreen plant, grow for edible fruits, mostly used also as ornamental plant and can grow as dwarf tree or bonsai, can grow in tropical, subtropical, mediterranean or temperate climate and growing in hardiness zone 6+.
Leaves color green in elliptic shape and the tree has thorns, flowers color white, flowers grow in clusters.
Poncirus trifoliata edible fruits
Fruit size ~3-5 cm and color is yellow, the inner fruit divided by segments the segment cover with layer, the taste is sour remind lemon tree to bitter orange tree.
Poncirus trifoliata for sale – Seeds or Plants to Buy
Well-drained soil, slightly acid soil, moist soil in the fruits season and better to put mulch
How to care: Design for easy to pick the fruits (when there are thorns it’s important but not all cultivars have thorns), add to the soil, organic matter, humus and fertilizer, in location with hot summer sun that the main trunk is expose to the sun better to better to whitewash (lime paint)
What is the best way to start growing: Plant / Seed / Cutting / Air layering
Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction? No
Difficulties/Problems with growing: Thorns, invasive
Planting season: Spring to summer in hardiness zone 6-10a, spring or autumn hardiness zone 10b-11a, possible also in summer and winter the main problem it’s hot and cold days that might cause future problem and even kill the plant, hardiness zone 11b+ planted all year
How to prune: Dead branch, cross branch, too much density
Size of the plant? 3-8 m, 10-24 feet
Growth speed in optimal condition: Medium growing to slow growing
Water requirement: Average amount of water, usually the plant need more water in the fruits season, but usually it’s when there are rains and if raining season delay need to increase the amount of water that the fruits won’t be dry and won’t explode.
Light conditions in optimal condition for growing: Full Sun and possible to grow in half shade in the right care but will produce less fruits
Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant? No, but possible to grow next to window with sun that possible, grow it as dwarf tree and will take more time to get fruits
Growing is also possible in a pot, planter, flowerpot or containers: Yes, when grow in container need to choose the desirable container if it’s small plant it directly if it’s a big container bigger than 100% than the root ball consider start to grow with small container, better to switch the soil once in few years, when start to grow check that the graft of the tree not too much high and choose plant that can grow as dwarf tree or to grow it as bonsai.
When does flowers bloom? Spring, summer
General information about the flower White flowers
Thinning / Deadheading of the blossom: The first years should thinning the flowers,
Pollination is done by: Bees
When does it yield: Autumn, winter
Fruits pests or diseases: Citrus stubborn disease, citrus black spot, Alternaria
What can be donewith bigquantities of Trifoliate orange fruit? Eat, juice, the rind used fragrant, fruit leather, sugary rind
Work requirements on the fruit: pick up (sometimes cut brunches that grow into the fruit)
How long does it take to bear fruit? 2-3 years
Ripening of fruit Possible to pick up the fruit before and let them ripening them in the house
How to grow Poncirus trifoliate from seeds
Sowing requirement: Moist soil, well-drained soil, 20-27C temperature and better in sunny location
Saving and care seeds until sowing: Dry, dark location in room temperature
Sowing season: Spring to early summer (possible also summer to autumn)
How to plant: Planting in soil that keep moist, cover the seed lightly
Planting spacing: Better in separate pots, direct on the place 3*4m (10*13 feet), for transplant 5*5 cm (2*2 inches)
Depth of Sowing: 2cm (1inches)
Conditions for seeds germinate: Keep the soil and don’t let it dry, rich soil and sunny location
Watering requires for Seeds: Average amount of water
Germination time: 2-4 weeks, but can take longer
Condition of seedling: If there is Citrus leaf miner in one of the trees in the area, better to put it in greenhouse or indoor to protect the tree, young tree very sensitive to citrus leaf miners, better to cover the soil with mulch.
Alternative names: Citrus trifoliate, Trifoliate orange, Flying dragon tree