“Sweet enough to eat off the tree, peel and all. The kids strip it bare every season.”
Background
'Meiwa' (also called ninpo or neiha kinkan in Japan) is a round-fruited kumquat of uncertain origin, long grown in Zhejiang province, China, and Fukuoka, Japan; some authorities consider it a possible hybrid between Fortunella species. Introduced to the US via early-20th-century Asian citrus collections. It is the standard 'sweet kumquat' in the American nursery trade and is widely regarded as the best fresh-eating kumquat.
Distinguishing traits
Compact, nearly spherical evergreen tree, 6-15 ft (often kept 6-10 ft), thornless-ish, glossy dark green leaves. Fruit small, round to slightly oblong, bright to deep orange, 10-16 g, with a sweet, thick, spicy rind and mildly sweet-tart pulp; eaten whole, peel and all. Fragrant white flowers, cyclical blooming, fruit ripens November-May.
Desert care — zone 9b
- Chill hours
- Very low; kumquats are among the least chill-dependent citrus.
- Cold hardiness
- One of the hardiest citrus; established trees tolerate ~18-20°F (zone 8a).
- Heat tolerance
- Takes full desert heat well once established; young trees appreciate afternoon shade the first summer.
- Water
- Moderate; deep watering 1x/week in summer, less in winter; avoid waterlogging.
- Soil
- Well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral; tolerant of varied soils. Watch for zinc deficiency (small leaves, short internodes) in alkaline desert soil.
- Sun exposure
- Full sun to partial shade; excellent in containers.
Where to buy
- Talbott Nursery