Citrus japonica kumquat foliage and fruit detail with small orange fruits.

Citrus japonica kumquat medium plant in a nursery pot.

Citrus japonica kumquat large plant in a nursery pot.

Rutaceae

Citrus japonica (Kumquat)

Kumquat

5 for 4

Small glossy leaves cover the dense evergreen crown of Citrus japonica. Fragrant white flowers open before round or oval fruit develops and ripens golden orange.

Read full guide to Citrus japonica (Kumquat)

€48,00

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Choose a size

M Pot Ø 19 cm · approx. 45 cm tall L Pot Ø 20 cm · approx. 60 cm tall

Variant

Sizes are approximate. Height is measured from the bottom of the pot to the top of the plant; diameter at the widest point.

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Care at a glance

Citrus japonica (Kumquat)

Light

Full sun / direct • approx. 40,000–80,000 lux

Watering

Water when ~20–30% dry

Substrate

Airy • Fast-draining • Mineral-leaning • Fine-medium

Temperature

Ideal: 10–28 °C • Avoid below: 7 °C

Humidity

Elevated 50–60%

Growth habit

Upright woody shrub or tree.

Support

not needed

Growth speed

Average

Cultivated size guide

Height: 150 cm • Spread: 120 cm

Toxicity & safety

Toxic

Origin & habitat

Native from southeastern China to Hainan

Outdoor growing

Outside from 10 °C · sheltered from wind

How to read these values

These care values give practical guidance for growing the plant. Adjust care for pot size, substrate, temperature and how quickly the substrate dries.

For more detail, read the full product description or visit our Plant Care Guides.

Light: level and approximate lux at leaf level.
Watering: “% dry” shows how far the substrate should dry before watering again.
Substrate: structure, drainage, moisture retention, base material and particle size.
Temperature: “Ideal” shows the preferred range; “Avoid below” marks the cold-stress threshold.
Humidity: target range; steady conditions usually matter more than exact numbers.

Growth habit: how the plant grows, such as upright, climbing, trailing, clumping or rosette-forming.
Support: whether a stake, pole or trellis is needed, optional or unnecessary.
Growth speed: expected pace under suitable growing conditions; use as a guide, not a promise.

Cultivated size guide: approximate dimensions for an established plant in the stated growing context. Height is measured upwards from the growing surface; foliage height excludes flower stems. Trailing length follows a stem, while foliage drop is the vertical distance from the crown to the lowest leaf tips. Spread is the width of the leafy plant or crown, not an individual leaf. Flowering height includes the flower stems. A container guide applies to pot-grown plants; an in-ground guide applies to plants rooted in the ground. Size also depends on age, conditions, pot space and training.

These figures do not describe the size supplied and are not fixed upper limits.

Toxicity & safety: irritation, toxicity or physical hazards such as spines or bristles.
Origin & habitat: native range, hybrid background or typical habitat where relevant.
Outdoor growing: when a potted indoor plant can be placed outside and what outdoor protection it needs.

Citrus japonica (Kumquat)

Kumquat forms a fine-textured crown of small glossy leaves on densely twigged branches. Fragrant white flowers appear where the leaves meet the stems and can be followed by generous clusters of small fruit along the outer canopy.

The fruit changes from green to golden orange and may be round or oval. The thin aromatic peel is sweet and is eaten with the fruit, while the segmented flesh inside has a sharper flavour.

Kumquat growth and fruit features

Habit: Dense, fine-branched evergreen growth with small glossy leaves forms a compact shrub or small tree.
Fruit: Small fruit ripens golden orange and can be round or oval according to the cultivated form.
Peel and flesh: The thin peel is sweet and aromatic, while the segmented pulp is sharper and more acidic.
Flowers: Small fragrant white blossoms emerge where the leaves meet the stems singly or in small groups.

Origin & background

Origin of Citrus japonica (Kumquat)

Kumquat is native to southeastern China, including Hainan, and has been cultivated in East Asia for centuries. It later spread widely as both an ornamental and edible citrus.

Its native region has a subtropical climate with clear seasonal temperature changes.

Plant care

Growing Citrus japonica (Kumquat)

Light: Give very strong light and direct sun to keep the twiggy crown dense and support flowering and fruit colour.
Humidity: Indoors, moderate humidity around 50–60% is suitable. Place the foliage away from dry heater air.
Cooler conditions: Keep temperatures around 10–28 °C. Avoid prolonged temperatures below 7 °C. Kumquat can stay in bright, cool, frost-free conditions when shoot growth has paused. Water and feed less while demand is low. If you later move it to warmer conditions, make the change gradually.
Watering: Rewater after the surface dries and the centre is lightly moist. A fruiting plant should be watered before the root ball dries throughout; in cooler conditions, allow a little more drying between waterings. Let excess water drain after each watering.
Mix and repotting: Use an open citrus mix that drains freely and still holds some moisture. When roots are crowded, move to the next pot size. If an older mix has become dense, refresh it even if the plant can stay in the same container.
Feeding: Feed with a complete citrus fertiliser at a moderate dose while the plant is active.
Pruning and crop: Kumquat needs little pruning beyond shortening shoots that break the outline. Fruit needs support or thinning only when a young branch starts to bow. Unlike many citrus fruits, kumquats are often eaten with their peel. Only eat home-grown fruit when the ornamental plant's pesticide treatment history is suitable for food use and all harvest waiting periods have passed.

Issues & solutions

Kumquat stress and pest problems

Leaves drop after a move indoors: Moving from a bright, cool position into a warmer, darker room can cause leaf loss. Give the tree the brightest suitable winter position, protect it from draughts and water according to how quickly the smaller, leafless canopy now uses moisture.
Fruit drops while the potting mix is very dry: Developing fruit raises water demand, and severe drought can increase crop loss. Rehydrate the mix evenly, allow full drainage and maintain a steadier moisture cycle through fruit development.
Brown bumps, honeydew or black surface growth appears: Scale insects often settle on woody stems and leaf undersides. Isolate Kumquat, remove visible insects and clean sticky residue. For an active scale infestation, use only a product labelled for scale and the plant, repeating it solely as the label directs. The scale guide can help confirm active insects. For edible kumquats, use only treatments approved for scale on food crops and observe all harvest intervals before eating the peel or flesh.
Leaves yellow and the pot remains wet for a long time: Cool, saturated potting mix can damage fine roots. Let the mix dry enough for air to return around the roots and inspect for soft dark tissue if the decline continues; use the root-rot guide if decay is present. A firm brown root is not automatically rotten; remove only confirmed soft, collapsing roots with clean tools.

Safety

Citrus japonica (Kumquat): protect cats and dogs

Kumquat flesh and peel are commonly eaten by people, provided the tree was grown and treated for food use. Do not allow cats or dogs to chew the foliage, peel or fallen fruit.
Citrus peel and leaves contain aromatic oils that may cause digestive upset or skin irritation in pets; edible for people does not mean pet-safe.
If an animal eats plant material or becomes unwell, contact a veterinarian. Wash any irritating citrus oil from skin and seek medical advice if symptoms persist.

Names & etymology

When was Citrus japonica first published, and what does it mean?

Citrus is the classical Latin name used for citron and related citrus plants. The epithet japonica means “of Japan”.

Carl Linnaeus established the genus Citrus in 1753 in Species Plantarum, page 782.

Carl Peter Thunberg first described Citrus japonica in 1780 in Nova Acta Regiae Societatis Scientiarum Upsaliensis, series 2, volume 3, page 208.

Plant names, growth habits, natural habitats and indoor care guidance are checked against trusted botanical, habitat and horticultural references before publication.View our plant care resources and references.