Flying Dragon Orange (Poncirus trifoliata ‘Flying Dragon’)
Flying Dragon Orange is guaranteed to be one of the most visually interesting plants in any garden. It has edible, though sour, fruit and amazingly contorted branches with gorgeous long spines. It is typically a large shrub and usually grow 10 to 18 feet tall with a similar spread. It is native to China and has few pests. It fares best in USDA hardiness zones 6 to 10.
Darlene Lynn Thompson
May 8, 1959 – November 13, 2022
The Flying Dragon Orange … ALL THINGS DARLENE
Orange was my mother’s favorite color because she would say it was bright and vibrant. She also loved the fall colors of orange as it was her favorite time of year. As a woman who has always done things on her own terms, it is befitting that she left us to join her beloved mother and father during the fall season. Born a daddy’s girl, she physically resembled her father more and more as she grew older, however she ultimately embodied the character traits of her mother becoming the epitome of her persona. She always said she got her strength from her mother, and how it was her mother’s voice telling her to stay strong as she battled breast cancer six different times over the last five years of her life. A battle she bravely fought mostly in private with me, her daughter, by her side. She and I were best friends.
Darlene was born in Ohio, however spent much of her life in California. Charlotte was the place that felt most like home in her heart and where she wanted to leave her legacy. She loved to take walks in the beautiful outdoor spaces of Charlotte. She and I had the blessing of spending the last five years of her life together here in Charlotte, allowing us to bond, to mend, and to grow closer than we had ever been. Although she left me so soon at the young age of 63, she has left a deep, impactful impression on my life and I will be forever grateful.
The uniqueness, rarity, strength, and beauty of The Flying Dragon Orange describes all things, Darlene. The tough, impenetrable thorns of this tree are easily camouflaged and can be intimidating at first glance but can also be seen as protection and shelter. As her only child, she protected and provided for me and could not have loved me any more than she did. She was tough and I was her world and her greatest accomplishment. She tirelessly worked multiple jobs as a single mother to give me the best education and opportunities. She never gave up fighting to live, fighting to enjoy life and fighting to have more time with me. Some of her happiest times were her and I at concerts or jazz clubs.
The complexity of the branches of The Flying Dragon Orange mirrors her complexities in life. She faced all challenges with tenacity and conquered whatever was put in front of her. She always remained positive and never once complained about her journey of illness. She turned her circumstances into life lessons and inspiration for others. Although she was a private and proud woman who did not let many people in, the few that did penetrate her tough exterior saw a softer side of her just like the soft white flowers that bloom on this tree. The colorful and fragrant oranges of this tree can be too bitter to be eaten in their natural state, however can be candied into the sweetest syrups, jams, and marmalades. Darlene had a sharp tongue and always spoke her mind but her patience and willingness to listen, counsel, and support those dear to her will always resonate with us. Her extraordinary faith in God was beautiful and never faltered on her journey.
The twists and turns of the vines of The Flying Dragon Orange and the intricate patterns they create are beautiful, exotic, and an eccentric natural work of art. The beauty of this tree draws you in while pushing you back. It is thorny and resilient, however captivating, stylish, fashionable, creative, and artistic. It’s “different”. My mother, Darlene, was “different”.
Whenever I visit the Flying Dragon Orange that has been dedicated to her life and legacy, I will reflect fondly on All things Darlene…..my mother, my best friend, my heart, my hero.
