Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Limequat
Limequat is a cross between a key lime and a kumquat, grown for small, oval, yellow green fruit about the size of a kumquat. The thin skin is sweet and the juicy pulp is tart like a lime, so you can eat it whole or use it in place of limes. It stays a compact evergreen tree with fragrant white blossoms. The fruit ripens from late fall into winter.
Best for: a compact citrus tree for a smaller yard, small tart fruit to eat whole or use in place of limes, and fragrant white blossoms in spring.
The fruit can stand in for limes in drinks and cooking. The tree stays smaller than most citrus, about 6 to 12 feet tall.
Like a kumquat, the thin skin is sweet, so the small fruit can be eaten whole. It can also be candied whole or made into preserves.
It grows into a compact, bushy evergreen tree about 5 to 10 feet wide. Plant it about 8 feet from other small trees, in full sun, where you can reach the fruit.
It takes more cold than a lime but less than a kumquat, and young trees need cover on freezing nights. Bare trunks sunburn in the Valley. Citrus drops leaves, blossoms and fruit.
- Small trees in a rowAbout 8 ft apart
- Standalone tree8 to 10 ft from other trees
A young citrus tree needs water every few days in its first months, more often in summer. Water out past the edge of the canopy, not at the trunk.
Soak it 2 to 3 feet deep about every 7 to 14 days in summer and every 3 to 4 weeks in winter. Never water shallow and daily.
Feed with citrus fertilizer three times a year, between late winter and late summer.
Prune lightly from late winter into spring, never in summer. Leave the low branches, which shade the trunk, and paint any exposed bark with white latex paint.
It is rated to about 26°F, more than a lime. Cover young trees with frost cloth to the ground on freezing nights, and water the day before a freeze.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
What is a limequat?
It is a cross between a key lime and a kumquat. The fruit looks like a small, oval, yellow green kumquat, with a sweet skin and tart, lime flavored pulp.
How do you eat a limequat?
You can eat it whole, skin and all, like a kumquat. You can also use the juice and rind in drinks and dishes in place of lime, or candy the fruit whole.
How big does a limequat tree get?
Expect about 6 to 12 feet tall and about 5 to 10 feet wide, with a compact, bushy shape. It grows at a moderate rate.
How far apart should I plant limequat trees?
Plant small citrus like this about 8 feet apart center to center. Give a standalone tree 8 to 10 feet from other trees. The Spacing tab can count trees for a row.
Which size should I buy?
The 15 gallon is the easier tree to cover on frosty nights while it roots in. The 25 gallon gives you more size at planting. The size guide describes each one.
Is a limequat more cold hardy than a lime?
Yes. It takes more cold than a lime but less than a kumquat, and it is rated to about 26°F. Cover young trees with frost cloth to the ground on freezing nights.
When are limequats ripe?
The fruit ripens from late fall into winter. It turns pale yellow when ripe, and you can pick it once it reaches full size.
How often should I water a limequat?
Water deeply, out past the edge of the canopy, 2 to 3 feet down. Established trees need water about every 7 to 14 days in summer and every 3 to 4 weeks in winter. Young trees need water every few days at first.
When should I prune it?
Prune lightly in late winter or spring, not in summer. Keep the low branches, since they shade the trunk from sunburn.
Is a limequat safe for dogs and cats?
No. Citrus plants, including both parents of the limequat, are listed as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Chewing the peel, leaves or stems can cause vomiting, diarrhea and depression.
Limequat for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Limequat is a small citrus tree from a cross of key lime and kumquat. It gives tart, lime flavored fruit with a sweet, edible skin. Below are the questions Valley homeowners ask most, from size and spacing to cold, harvest and care.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
What is a limequat?
A limequat is a cross between a key lime and a kumquat. It gives small, oval, yellow green fruit with a sweet skin and tart, lime flavored pulp.
How big does a limequat tree get in Arizona?
Expect about 6 to 12 feet tall and 5 to 10 feet wide. It stays compact and bushy, which suits smaller yards and patios.
Limequat vs lime
A limequat takes more cold than a lime, and its fruit is smaller with an edible, sweet skin. The juice and rind can be used in drinks and cooking in place of lime.
How cold hardy is a limequat?
It is rated to about 26°F. It is hardier than a lime but less hardy than a kumquat, so cover young trees on freezing nights.
How far apart do you plant a limequat?
Plant about 8 feet apart center to center, and give a standalone tree 8 to 10 feet. The spacing calculator can count trees for a row.
Watering a limequat in Phoenix
Water deeply, wetting the soil 2 to 3 feet down and out past the canopy edge. Established trees need water about every 7 to 14 days in summer and every 3 to 4 weeks in winter.
When to pick limequats
The fruit ripens from late fall into winter and turns pale yellow when ripe. Eat it whole, use it like a lime, or candy it.
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