Beginner's Guide to Growing Citrus in New Zealand
You don’t need a big garden, a green thumb, or years of experience to grow great citrus in New Zealand. You just need the right tree for your space and climate. This guide covers everything you need to know before buying your first citrus tree — from choosing a rootstock to getting your first harvest.
What is a rootstock — and why does it matter?
When you buy a citrus tree from Flying Dragon Nursery, it’s actually two plants in one. The top part — the variety you’re buying, like a Lemon Eureka or a Bay Sweetie Mandarin — is grafted onto the root system of a different, more vigorous plant. That root system is called the rootstock.
The rootstock controls three important things: how big your tree grows, how cold-hardy it is, and how quickly it fruits. The variety (and therefore the fruit) stays exactly the same regardless of which rootstock you choose — only the tree’s size and vigour changes.
One thing to watch for — rootstock suckers
You’ll notice a slight bump low on the trunk — that’s the graft union. Occasionally the rootstock sends up a shoot from below this point. It doesn’t happen often, but if you spot one, simply remove it by cutting or pulling it off as close to the base as possible. It’s easy to deal with and nothing to worry about.
- Stays 1.5–2m tall
- Great in pots and small gardens
- Earlier to fruit
- Exceptional cold hardiness
- Grows 2.5–3.5m
- Higher yield at maturity
- Outstanding cold hardiness
- Superior to other Trifoliatas in NZ
Flying Dragon Dwarf rootstock was introduced to New Zealand by us — it’s our signature rootstock and the reason our nursery is named after it. If you’re unsure, start with Flying Dragon Dwarf. It’s forgiving, manageable, and produces beautiful fruit in almost any situation.
Which rootstock is right for me?
The simplest way to choose is to think about where your tree will live:
| Your situation | Recommended rootstock |
|---|---|
| Growing in a pot or container | Flying Dragon (Dwarf) |
| Small courtyard or urban garden | Flying Dragon (Dwarf) |
| Balcony or apartment | Flying Dragon (Dwarf) |
| Open garden with space to grow | Rubidoux Trifoliata |
| Orchard planting | Rubidoux Trifoliata |
| Cold climate (South Island, elevated areas) | Either — both are cold hardy |
| Want maximum fruit quantity | Rubidoux Trifoliata |
| Want easiest tree to manage | Flying Dragon (Dwarf) |
Pot or garden — which should I choose?
Both work well for citrus in New Zealand. The right choice depends on your space and how much flexibility you want.
Growing in a pot is ideal if you have limited space, live in a colder area and want to move the tree to a sheltered spot in winter, or rent and can’t plant in the ground. Choose Flying Dragon Dwarf rootstock and use a pot at least 50cm wide. Use a quality citrus potting mix, feed every 6–8 weeks through spring and summer, and water regularly — pots dry out faster than garden beds.
Growing in the ground gives your tree more room to develop, requires less frequent watering once established, and produces more fruit at maturity. Choose a sunny, sheltered spot with well-draining soil. Avoid frost pockets and areas with poor drainage.
The most common beginner mistake is starting with a pot that’s too small. A 30cm pot might seem generous for a young tree, but citrus grows fast. Start with at least 50cm and repot every 2–3 years as the tree grows.
Can I grow citrus where I live?
Most of New Zealand can grow citrus — it really comes down to how much frost your area gets and which varieties suit your conditions. Both our rootstocks are cold hardy, so the key question is variety choice rather than rootstock.
You can grow the full range of citrus with confidence — lemons, limes, oranges, mandarins, grapefruits, finger limes and all the unusual varieties. These areas rarely get damaging frosts and citrus thrives.
Most citrus grows well here with a little thought about placement. Choose a warm, sheltered, north-facing spot and avoid frost pockets. Lemons, mandarins and kumquats are reliable. Limes and the more tender varieties may need extra frost protection in cold snaps.
Regular hard frosts mean variety choice matters most here. Stick to the hardiest citrus — Satsuma mandarins, kumquats, and lemons on Flying Dragon Dwarf rootstock are your best options. A warm wall or sheltered microclimate makes a significant difference. Growing in a pot and moving under cover in winter is also a great option in these areas.
If you’re unsure, contact us — we’ve been growing citrus in New Zealand since the 1980s and are happy to advise on what will work best in your specific location.
When will I get fruit?
Because every tree we sell is grafted, it is already well on its way to fruiting when it arrives. Grafted trees fruit true to the variety, reliably and consistently.
The trees we sell are around 2.5 years old and most are already at fruiting stage. Many arrive with flowers or fruit already forming on them. We deliberately remove flowers and developing fruit before they leave the nursery — not because anything is wrong with the tree, but because we want it to put all of its energy into establishing strong roots and a healthy structure in its new home rather than carrying fruit through the stress of transplanting.
A tree that focuses on growth in its first season will reward you with far more fruit in the years that follow. It’s one of those decisions that feels counterintuitive but makes a real long-term difference.
We know how exciting it is when your new tree puts out its first flowers. It is incredibly tempting to let them go. But we genuinely recommend removing all flowers and fruit in the first season after planting, or at minimum thinning them heavily to just 2–3 fruit. Your tree will mature faster, develop a stronger root system, and produce significantly more fruit from year two onwards. Think of it as investing in a bigger harvest later.
If you absolutely can’t resist leaving some fruit on — and we understand completely — thin it back rather than letting the tree carry a full load. A little patience in year one means years of abundant harvests ahead.
Getting started — the basics of citrus care
Sunlight: Citrus loves sun. Aim for at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. A north-facing position is ideal in New Zealand.
Watering: The golden rule for citrus is deep but infrequent watering. While young trees need consistent moisture until established, you must let the top few centimeters of soil dry out completely between waterings. More trees die from "suffocating" in soggy soil than from drying out. Once established, they are remarkably drought-tolerant, though potted trees will always need a closer eye than those in the ground.
Feeding: Feed with a quality citrus fertiliser in spring, summer, and autumn. Don’t feed in winter. Regular feeding makes a noticeable difference to fruit size and quantity.
Frost protection: Both our rootstocks are cold hardy, but young trees are more vulnerable than mature ones. In the first winter, consider wrapping the trunk or covering with frost cloth if hard frosts are expected.
Pruning: Light pruning after fruiting keeps the tree a manageable size and encourages new growth. Flying Dragon Dwarf trees need very little pruning. Always remove any rootstock suckers growing from below the graft union — see section 01 for how to identify these.
Ready to find your tree?
Browse our full range of grafted citrus trees — all grown in Kerikeri, Northland.
Shop Citrus Trees →