Meiwa Kumquat Budwood

Fortunella crassifolia.

Meiwa kumquat, Fortunella crassifolia, is a lesser-known species of kumquat, it is the Ninpo, Meiwa or Neiha kinkan of Japan. The tree is similar to the Nagami kumquat in appearance, but it cannot be budded onto all the same rootstocks as Nagami.  Trifoliate seems to be the best rootstock choice for Meiwa.  Kumquat trees are especially susceptible to zinc deficiency, which can cause small leaves and reduced internode distance. As with Nagami, Meiwa trees are semi-dormant in winter, allowing them to withstand temperatures below freezing.  The flowering season is in summer, and the fruits mature in late winter.  The almost-round fruits are orange at maturity, up to one and one-half inches in diameter. The sweet rind is thicker than the rind of Nagami, making it seem sweeter than Nagami. The flesh is light orange, contains a few seeds, and is acidic.

Rootstocks of accession: Carrizo citrange, Cleopatra mandarin.

Season of ripeness in the Riverside climate and latitude: Year round.

Flowering season at Riverside: May to September.

Prepared by the Givaudan Citrus Variety Collection at The University of California Riverside.