Meiwa Kumquat

Meiwa Kumquat (Citrus japonica 'Meiwa') is the sweet kumquat, the one you eat whole off the tree, skin and all. It makes a neat rounded tree to about 2.5m tall and 2m wide, slow growing and dense enough to clip, with fragrant white flowers in spring and round golden fruit through winter. For a small garden or a large pot it is one of the easiest citrus to keep.

Why you'll love it

• Sweet enough to eat whole. Unlike the sour Nagami kumquat, Meiwa has thick sweet skin and mild low acid flesh, so the whole fruit is pleasant off the tree.
• A citrus that fits a courtyard. At 2.5m by 2m, and slower growing than most citrus, it suits a small garden or a 500mm pot.
• Fragrant spring flowers. White blossom with the classic citrus scent, worked hard by bees, followed by fruit that holds for months.
• Tougher than it looks. Heat tolerant, drought tolerant once established, and salt tolerant enough for a coastal garden.

Where it works best

Pots and containers. A 500mm pot with free draining mix holds it at about 1.5m to 2m. Potted citrus dry out fast, so plan on watering every second day in hot weather.

Small gardens and feature planting. The round dense habit and winter fruit make it a genuine feature near a path or a courtyard seat.

Hedging. Planted 1.5m apart it makes a low informal fruiting hedge, though expect less fruit than a free standing tree, since trimming removes flowering wood.

Growing Meiwa Kumquat in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, at least six hours, with shelter from strong wind. Subtropical, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens suit it. It takes light frost only, so in cold inland and tableland gardens grow it in a pot and move it under cover for winter.

Soil. Free draining and slightly acidic, enriched with compost before planting. Citrus hate wet feet, so mound on clay, and keep mulch 100mm clear of the trunk to avoid collar rot.

Water and feed. Deep water twice a week through the first two summers, then weekly in dry weather. Feed a dedicated citrus fertiliser three times a year, in early spring, midsummer and early autumn. Yellowing leaves usually signal hunger or waterlogging rather than disease.

Pruning. Very little is needed. Shape lightly after harvest in late winter, remove any shoots from below the graft, and thin a crowded centre. Fruit forms on new growth, so avoid heavy summer cutting.

What to expect when it arrives

This kumquat is grown as tube stock, so you are buying a young tree, generally 15 to 25cm tall, rather than a fruiting specimen. Be realistic about the timeline: allow three to four years to the first useful crop, and longer in a cooler garden. The trade off is price, and a young citrus settles in faster than a large potted one.

Pot it up into a 200mm container for a season before planting out, which is the standard way to grow tube citrus on. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Growing citrus trees in an Australian backyard
• Browse the citrus range
• Compare edible plants
• Plants suited to pots and containers

Common questions

How long until it fruits?

From tube stock, allow three to four years for a worthwhile crop, with a few fruit possible earlier. Consistent feeding and full sun make the biggest difference to how soon it starts.

Can I keep it in a pot permanently?

Yes, and it is one of the better citrus for it. Use a pot at least 500mm wide, refresh the top of the mix each spring, and repot or root prune every three to four years.

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

The fruit and foliage contain citrus oils that can upset cats and dogs, so we do not list it as pet friendly. Dropped fruit is the main risk, so pick it up where a dog scavenges.