Citrus (syn. Fortunella) japonica - kumquat (Fitocella)

Genus of about 12 species of evergreen trees and shrubs, native to the Far East. Citrus aponica, also commonly known as Chinese mandarin or fortunella, is a small evergreen fruit tree up to 3.5-4 m tall, with thick, rounded foliage. The leaves are an intense dark green, and the flowers appear single or in a group of buds. The fruits are small, oval, 3-4 cm long and are generally produced in November, persisting on the plant until February. The peculiarity of this citrus fruit is that the peel is sweet while the pulp is sour. For this reason the fruits of this variety are consumed whole without peeling them.

Pedoclimatic needs

Fortunella, together with grapefruit, bitter orange and mandarin, is among the most cold-resistant citrus fruits, resisting temperatures just below zero for short periods. They prefer loose and fertile soils, possibly with a good organic substance content and avoid excessively calcareous soils. Citrus fruits do not tolerate drought and must be watered and fertilized regularly during the dry season.

Botanical Information

Botanical Name: Citrus japonica sin Fortunella japonica

Family: Rutaceae