Kumquats

Kumquat Varieties

Kumquat belongs to the flowering plant family Rutaceae. It is a group of small fruit-bearing trees native to Southeast Asia.

VARIETY	SEASON OF MATURITY	SEEDS/FRUIT	FRUIT SIZE	COMMENTS
Centennial (oblong) (variegated)	Nov – May		Small – Medium 2” – 2-1/2”	The sour taste is similar to limequat (Key Lime). It turns orange when very ripe.
Marumi (round) Fortunella japonica		Few	Small 1” – 1½”	Plant thornier than Nagami; more tart than Meiwa. Cold sensitive.
Meiwa (round) Fortunella crassifolia (F. margarita × F. japonica)	Nov – May	Few 3 – 5 (very small)	Small 1” – 1½”	It has a round shape. Sweetest of all kumquats; best eating kumquat. Thick rind, little juice. Used for preserves, candied fruit, and eating out of hand. Compact growth habit; tree is small, thornless. Cold hardy.
Nagami (long) Fortunella margarita	Nov – May	Few 3-5 (very small)	Small 1¼” – 1¾”	It has an oblong shape. More tart taste than Meiwa and brighter orange color. Used for preserves and commercial landscaping. Small-medium, vigorous tree has small, dark green leaves, fine branches. Cold hardy.

Note: Nothing requires a pollinator; if it did, it may produce more fruit.
< 25‑30°F, need to protect all citrus. Hard freeze: 28°F > 4 hrs.