Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Meiwa Kumquat
Meiwa is the sweet kumquat, with round fruit that is juicier and sweeter than other kumquats and has almost no seeds. You eat it whole, and it is also used for preserves and candied fruit. It stays a small evergreen tree with fragrant white flowers. The fruit ripens through the cooler months, and kumquats are among the most cold hardy citrus.
Best for: sweet kumquats to eat fresh off the tree, a small citrus tree for a patio or narrow spot, and fruit for preserves and candying.
The round fruit has a sweet peel and sweet, juicy pulp, so it is the kumquat people eat straight off the tree. It has almost no seeds.
Meiwa fruit is used for preserves and candied fruit. A tree in full sun gives a crop through the cooler months.
It stays a small tree about 6 to 10 feet tall and only about 4 to 6 feet wide. Plant it about 8 feet from other small trees, close to where you can pick.
Heavy pruning and raising the canopy expose the trunk to sunburn. Young trees still need cover on the coldest nights.
- 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, from winter through late summer.
Prune lightly, if at all, from late winter into spring, never in summer. Do not raise the canopy. The low branches shade the trunk from sunburn.
Kumquats are among the most cold hardy citrus, and mature trees can take about 18°F. Cover young trees with frost cloth to the ground on the coldest nights.
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.
Is Meiwa the sweetest kumquat?
It is the kumquat known for sweet fruit. The round fruit has a sweet peel and sweeter, juicier pulp than Nagami, with almost no seeds, so it is the one people eat fresh.
How big does a Meiwa kumquat tree get?
Expect about 6 to 10 feet tall and about 4 to 6 feet wide. It grows at a moderate rate and stays small enough for a patio.
How far apart should I plant Meiwa kumquat 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 the coldest nights while it roots in. The 25 gallon gives you more size at planting. The size guide describes each one.
Meiwa vs Nagami kumquat
Meiwa fruit is round, sweet and nearly seedless. Nagami fruit is oval, more tart and has a few seeds, and Nagami is the more common tree.
When are Meiwa kumquats ripe?
The fruit ripens through the cooler months, from about late fall into early spring.
What can you do with Meiwa kumquats?
Eat them whole and fresh, skin and all. They are also used for preserves and candied fruit.
How cold can a kumquat take?
Kumquats are among the most cold hardy citrus, and mature trees can take about 18°F. Young trees and ripening fruit are more tender, so cover young trees with frost cloth to the ground on the coldest nights.
Do I need two kumquat trees for fruit?
No. Kumquats are self pollinating, so a single tree sets fruit. A second tree can increase the crop.
How often should I water a kumquat?
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.
Is a kumquat tree safe for dogs and cats?
No, treat it as unsafe. Kumquats are citrus, and citrus plants are listed as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Chewing the peel, leaves or stems can cause vomiting, diarrhea and depression.
Meiwa Kumquat for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Meiwa is the round, sweet kumquat, the one most often picked for eating fresh. Below are the questions Valley homeowners ask most, from flavor and size to spacing, cold 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.
Meiwa kumquat: the sweet kumquat
Meiwa has round fruit with a sweet peel and sweet, juicy pulp, and almost no seeds. It is the kumquat most often eaten fresh.
How big does a Meiwa kumquat get?
Expect about 6 to 10 feet tall and only about 4 to 6 feet wide. It is a small evergreen tree for patios and narrow spots.
Meiwa vs Nagami kumquat
Meiwa is round, sweet and nearly seedless. Nagami is oval and more tart, with a few seeds.
Are kumquats cold hardy in Arizona?
Yes. Kumquats are among the most cold hardy citrus, and mature trees can take about 18°F. Cover young trees on the coldest nights.
When to pick Meiwa kumquats
The fruit ripens through the cooler months, from about late fall into early spring.
How far apart do you plant kumquat trees?
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 kumquat 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.
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