Nagami Kumquat Budwood

Fortunella margarita.

Nagami kumquat, Fortunella margarita, is the most commonly grown type of kumquat. Kumquats are acid fruits that are popular in Asian countries, especially China. The tree is small to medium in size with a dense and somewhat fine texture.  The trees are remarkably cold-hardy due to their tendency to become semi-dormant from late fall to early spring. Kumquat trees are especially susceptible to zinc deficiency, which can cause small leaves and reduced internode distance.  The flowering season for kumquats is summer and the fruits mature in late winter, holding well on the tree. The typical Nagami fruit is oval in shape, one and one-quarter inch long and three-quarters of an inch wide. The entire fruit is eaten; the orange rind is sweet and the light orange flesh is acidic.  Each fruit contains about five or six seeds.

Rootstocks of accession: Carrizo citrange.

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

Flowering season at Riverside: July to August.

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