When you buy a grafted citrus tree, the rootstock it's grown on matters just as much as the variety. At Flying Dragon Nursery, we offer two outstanding rootstocks — and customers often ask us which one to choose. Here's our honest breakdown.
What is a Rootstock?
A rootstock is the root system and lower trunk onto which your chosen citrus variety (the 'scion') is grafted. The rootstock controls the tree's size, disease resistance, cold tolerance, and to some extent, fruit quality. The actual fruit you eat comes entirely from the scion — the rootstock simply determines how the tree grows.
Flying Dragon Rootstock: The Dwarf Option
The Flying Dragon rootstock (Poncirus trifoliata 'Flying Dragon') was developed in Japan and introduced to New Zealand by our nursery. It restricts tree height to around 1.5–2 metres, making it perfect for pots, small gardens, and balconies. Despite its small size, it produces full-sized, high-quality fruit. It's also highly resistant to common citrus diseases and handles cold, wet winters exceptionally well. If you want a compact, manageable citrus tree — especially in a pot or tight space — Flying Dragon is the answer.
Trifoliata (Rubidoux): The Vigorous Option
Our Rubidoux Trifoliata rootstock is the standard choice for gardeners who want a larger, more vigorous tree. Left unpruned, trees reach 2.5–3.5 metres — a proper productive citrus for the home orchard. Research shows that Rubidoux grafts produce more fruit with higher sugar content than other trifoliata rootstocks. If you have the space and want maximum yield, this is your rootstock.
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose Flying Dragon if: you're growing in a pot or container, you have a small garden or courtyard, you want a formal manicured look, or you live in a cooler southern region.
Choose Trifoliata if: you're planting in the ground with room to grow, you want maximum fruit production, or you're establishing a proper home orchard.
The good news: the fruit quality from both rootstocks is identical — both come from the same scion wood. It's purely a size and vigour decision.
Shop Our Rootstock Range
All our citrus trees are available on your choice of rootstock. Browse our full citrus collection and select your preferred option at checkout.