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Calamondin Cumquat – Calamondin Citrus Tree

About Your New Calamondin Cumquat – Calamondin Citrus Tree

Citrus x microcarpa, the Calamondin Cumquat, is a compact evergreen citrus carrying small round orange fruit and fragrant white flowers. Leaves are small, glossy and dark green, and the habit is upright and well branched without much help. It is as much an ornamental shrub as it is a fruit tree.

Full sun and a fertile, free draining soil give the best crop, with steady water while the fruit is filling. Warm temperate, subtropical and Mediterranean climates suit it, including protected coastal sites. Growth runs 20 to 60 centimetres a year. Young trees are frost sensitive, though established plants take light frost.

It works in an edible garden, a courtyard, a run of pots along a warm wall, or a planter outside a cafe where the fruit does double duty as decoration. The fruit is sour raw but excellent in marmalade, cordial and cooking. One established tree crops heavily enough for a household.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Calamondin Cumquat

What is a Calamondin Cumquat?

Calamondin Cumquat, Citrus x microcarpa, is a compact evergreen citrus understood to be a natural cross between a mandarin and a kumquat. It carries small round orange fruit about the size of a walnut alongside fragrant white flowers. The fruit is sour eaten raw and is normally used for marmalade, cordials, curd and cooking.

How big does a Calamondin Cumquat grow?

In the ground it makes a rounded shrub or small tree around 2 to 3 metres tall and 1.5 to 2 metres wide. In a large pot it will settle at about 1.5 metres, with the container doing most of the limiting. A light prune after harvest keeps it compact and easy to pick.

When does it flower and fruit?

Flowering runs through spring and summer, and the fruit colours from autumn and holds on the tree through winter. Established trees often carry flowers and ripe fruit at the same time, which is part of why the plant is grown ornamentally. Ripe fruit hangs well for weeks, so you can pick as you need it.

Can I grow a cumquat in a pot?

Yes, it is one of the better citrus for containers. Use a pot at least 50 centimetres wide with a free draining citrus mix, keep it in full sun, and water regularly because pots dry out fast in summer. Feed with a citrus fertiliser in early spring and again in late summer, and repot every three years.

Does it need full sun?

Full sun gives the best crop and the densest growth, with six hours of direct light the practical minimum. It will survive in part shade, but flowering and fruit set drop away noticeably. A position against a north facing wall works well in cooler districts, since the reflected warmth helps the fruit finish properly.

Is it frost tolerant?

Young trees are frost sensitive and should be sheltered, or grown in a pot that can be moved. Established trees handle light frost, and calamondin is among the more cold tolerant citrus, but hard or repeated frost will damage foliage and fruit. In cold districts plant clear of cold air drainage lines and against a warm wall.

How do I care for a Calamondin Cumquat?

Water deeply and regularly, especially while fruit is filling. Feed with a citrus fertiliser in early spring and again in late summer, and keep mulch clear of the trunk. Prune lightly after harvest to keep the centre open, and remove any shoots below the graft. Watch for citrus leafminer on soft summer growth and scale on shaded branches.

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Uses in my Garden

  • Edible Garden

Calamondin Cumquat – Calamondin Citrus Tree works in an:

  • Mediterranean Style Garden – timeless courtyard look with stone, pots, and bold greenery.
  • Contemporary / Architectural Garden – striking forms for bold design statements.

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