Round Kumquat Tree

Round kumquat (Citrus japonica) is a small evergreen citrus tree with white spring flowers and edible orange fruit. Its thin peel is sweet and the flesh is tart, so the fruit can be eaten whole or used in preserves. ## Growing Conditions Kumquats grow best in full sun and tolerate partial shade. They are suitable as specimen trees and can be grown in large containers; the open-grown tree can reach about 15 feet. The fruit ripens from October through March. [UF/IFAS Kumquat guide](https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/fruits/kumquat/) describes the fruit and care, while [Kew](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/771939-1) accepts Citrus japonica and lists Fortunella japonica as a synonym. ## Flowers and Fruit Small white citrus flowers open in spring. Round kumquat fruit has a thin, sweet peel and tart flesh; it is eaten whole or made into preserves and jams. ## Maintenance Remove shoots arising from the base because they are suckers; prune the canopy sparingly to avoid reducing fruit production.