Kumquat
Citrus japonica
Eaten whole: sweet peel, tart middle.
Hardiness: zones 8 to 11
Light: full sun
Size: about 10 ft tall, 8 ft wide
Harvest: December to March
From: S. China
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: food.
Hardy in zones 8 to 11.
The story
Kumquats were grown in southern China for centuries and described there in the 1100s; Robert Fortune brought them to London in 1846, and the genus still carries his name. Eaten whole, sweet rind and sour flesh together, they were the citrus that fit in a pot.
Planting
Full sun or bright shade, in a pot or the ground; the hardiest citrus, taking brief dips near 20°F. Self-fertile.
Growing
Keep evenly watered, feed in spring and summer, and give it a sheltered wall. It flowers late, in summer, so it dodges spring frost.
Harvest and use
Pick in winter when fully orange; eat whole, or slice into salads and marmalade. The fruit holds well on the tree.
What to watch for
Scale and mealybug, especially on potted trees; little else.
See if Kumquat fits your yard
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More tropical and subtropical food plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home