Citrus japonica 'Meiwa' (Fortunella crassifolia 'Meiwa')

Meiwa Kumquat Tree (Citrus japonica 'Meiwa') is an exceptionally sweet kumquat variety – a member of a fascinating group of citrus fruits that are eaten whole, peel and all.

Widely grown in China and Japan, Nagami kumquats are small, ovoid to round fruits prized for their naturally sweet, thin peel and tart, flavourful flesh. Meiwa Kumquat is also known as the Sweet Kumquat for good reason: it features a very sweet skin paired with delectably tangy flesh, creating a perfectly balanced flavour that is especially favoured for fresh eating. Meiwa Oval Kumquat is sweeter than the commercially grown Nordmann Kumquat and offers a wide range of culinary uses, including marmalades, candying, syrups, and cocktails. It retains its flavour beautifully when preserved.

The Nagami Kumquat plant produces abundant crops of golden-orange fruit, each measuring 3–4 cm in diameter, and is notably rounder than many other kumquat varieties. Grafted onto Flying Dragon rootstock, it displays an attractive, compact growth habit, rarely exceeding 1.5 m (5 ft), making it ideal for container growing.

An attractive evergreen plant, Meiwa Kumquat tree has thin, dense branching and glossy green, elliptic leaves. Younger growth may bear thorns, while older branches typically have few or none. Prolific, delicately fragrant white flowers bloom singly or in clusters from the leaf axils beginning in late May, attracting pollinators to the garden. Place potted plants on a patio or deck to fully enjoy their delightful scent. Nagami Kumquat plant is self-fertile.

Hardy to zone 9a (-6.5 °C), Citrus japonica 'Meiwa' must be brought indoors in the fall before temperatures drop - it must never be exposed to frost. It is easily grown indoors when placed in a bright, sunny window. Reduce watering during the winter months, but do not allow the soil to dry out completely. This Oval Kumquat fruit production typically begins in late fall and continues through winter, offering a delightful taste of the tropics during the cold Canadian winter.