Kumquat Tree

The Kumquat Tree (Fortunella japonica) is the citrus for people who do not have room for a citrus. It settles at about 3m tall and 2m wide in the ground and holds happily at half that in a large pot. The small golden fruit is eaten whole, skin and all: the rind is sweet, the flesh is sharp, and the two together are the point.

Why you'll love it

• Fruit you eat off the tree. No peeling and no juicing. What does not get eaten fresh makes excellent marmalade.
• Genuinely pot sized. At 3m by 2m in open ground it is small for a citrus, and a container holds it lower again without a fight.
• Scented flowers before the fruit. White blossom with the classic citrus perfume, strong enough to notice from a few metres on a warm evening.
• The toughest of the citrus. More cold tolerant than lemons or limes, comfortable in heat and humidity, and with non-invasive roots that suit a courtyard.

Where it works best

Pots and containers. The use it is best known for. A pot 500mm or wider with real drainage will carry a productive tree for years, and the restricted root run keeps it compact.

Balconies and courtyards. Evergreen, glossy and neat enough to sit beside a seating area, with flowers in spring and fruit hanging on for months.

Feature planting in a small garden. A single tree by a doorway earns its space three times over: foliage all year, scent in spring, and colour through the cooler months.

Growing Kumquat in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, and the more of it the better for fruit. It suits subtropical, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens and takes heat and humidity in its stride. It handles light frost only, so in hard frosting districts keep it in a pot you can move under cover, and protect young trees for their first few winters.

Soil. Free draining is not negotiable, because citrus roots rot in wet ground. Mound the planting position on clay and improve the backfill with compost. In pots use a quality citrus mix rather than garden soil.

Water and feed. Deep, regular watering while fruit is swelling, easing back in cool weather but never letting a potted tree dry right out. Feed a citrus fertiliser in early spring and again in late summer. Yellowing between green veins usually means hungry rather than sick.

Pruning. Very little is needed. Take out dead or crossing wood after harvest, shorten any stem that spoils the shape, and remove shoots appearing below the graft as soon as you see them.

What to expect when it arrives

We grow it in two sizes: tube stock, and 250mm plants sold in packs of three. Tube stock is inexpensive and the right buy if you can grow the tree on for a few years before a real crop. The 250mm plants are established and much closer to fruiting. Both sizes are currently on backorder, so check timing at checkout.

Citrus travel well but dislike sitting in the dark, so unpack yours the day it lands. A few dropped leaves after transit is normal. Expect about a month before new growth. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Growing citrus trees in your Australian backyard
• Browse the full citrus tree range
• Plants that do well in containers
• Meiwa Kumquat, the sweeter round fruited type

Common questions

Can I grow a kumquat in a pot long term?

Yes, and it is one of the better citrus for it. Use a pot at least 500mm wide with free draining mix, feed twice a year, and expect a tree closer to 1.5m than 3m.

Do I need a second tree for fruit?

No. Kumquats set fruit on their own, so a single tree in a courtyard will crop without a partner nearby.

How cold can it take?

It is the most cold tolerant of the citrus, but that means light frost rather than hard frost. In a genuinely cold garden grow it in a container you can shift under cover for winter.