- Botanical name: Citrofortunella microcarpa
- Common name: Calamondin
- Plant Type: Conservatory, Fruit, Tree, Evergreen
White
Green
- Key features:
- Fruits
- Scented flowers
x Citrofortunella microcarpa, or calamondin, is thought to be an intergenetic hybrid between a mandarin orange and a kumquat. In the UK it’s grown as a small, ornamental tree, although the small fruits are edible. The flesh is sour, but the fruit is sweet. Citrus trees are self-fertile, so you only need one tree to produce fruit; you will need to hand-pollinate the flowers indoors. You may see the pretty, scented, star-shaped flowers and fruits on the tree at the same time.
In the UK, a calamondin is best grown in a pot so that you can move it to a sheltered spot outdoors in the warmer months (June to September), then indoors to a cool, bright and frost-free location, such as a conservatory or heated greenhouse, in the cooler months. It needs a night temperature of at least 13°C.
Plant in ericaceous compost, John Innes or citrus compost, and water with tepid rainwater if possible. In winter, keep the compost just moist – do not overwater. Feed regularly with a citrus feed from spring to autumn. You could raise the humidity by placing the pot on a saucer or tray filled with gravel and topped up with water.
How to grow Citrofortunella microcarpa
-
Plant size
100cm height
80cm spread
-
Aspect
South facing, west facing
- Sun exposure: Full sun
- Hardiness: Tender
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do not Plant in June |
J
Do not Plant in July |
A
Do not Plant in August |
S
Do not Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does flower in March |
A
Plant does flower in April |
M
Plant does flower in May |
J
Plant does flower in June |
J
Plant does flower in July |
A
Plant does flower in August |
S
Plant does flower in September |
O
Plant does flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
| Fruits | ||||||||||||
| Fruits |
J
Plant does fruit in January |
F
Plant does not fruit in February |
M
Plant does fruit in March |
A
Plant does fruit in April |
M
Plant does fruit in May |
J
Plant does not fruit in June |
J
Plant does not fruit in July |
A
Plant does not fruit in August |
S
Plant does not fruit in September |
O
Plant does not fruit in October |
N
Plant does not fruit in November |
D
Plant does not fruit in December |
Citrofortunella microcarpa and wildlife
Citrofortunella microcarpa has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
Is Citrofortunella microcarpa poisonous?
Citrofortunella microcarpa can be toxic.
Toxic to Cats
Toxic to Dogs
Toxic to Horses
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
Plants that go well with Citrofortunella microcarpa
