Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Nagami Kumquat
Nagami is the most common kumquat, with small, oval, bright orange fruit. You eat it whole, skin and all, and the sweet peel balances the tart flesh. It grows into a small evergreen tree with fragrant white flowers. The fruit ripens from fall through early spring, and kumquats are among the most cold hardy citrus.
Best for: a small citrus tree for a patio or smaller yard, oval fruit you eat whole from fall into spring, and cold hardy citrus.
Pop the small oval fruit in your mouth, skin and all. The peel is the sweet part and the flesh is tart. It is also used for marmalade.
It grows into a small evergreen tree about 10 to 15 feet tall and 8 to 10 feet wide. Plant it about 8 feet from other small trees, near a patio where you can pick the fruit.
Bright orange fruit hangs on the tree from fall into early spring, against dark green leaves. Fragrant white flowers open in the warm season.
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.
How do you eat a Nagami kumquat?
Eat it whole, skin and all. The peel is sweet and the flesh is tart. Spit out the few seeds.
How big does a Nagami kumquat tree get?
Expect about 10 to 15 feet tall and about 8 to 10 feet wide in the ground. It grows at a moderate rate and stays a small tree.
How far apart should I plant Nagami 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.
Nagami vs Meiwa kumquat: what is the difference?
Nagami fruit is oval, more tart and has a few seeds. Meiwa fruit is round, sweeter and juicier, with almost no seeds, so it is the better pick for eating fresh.
When are Nagami kumquats ripe?
The fruit ripens from about October through March, and kumquats can hold fruit on the tree for months.
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.
When should I prune a kumquat?
Prune lightly, if at all, in late winter or spring, not in summer. Do not raise the canopy, since the low branches shade the trunk from sunburn.
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.
Nagami Kumquat for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Nagami is the oval kumquat most people know, a small evergreen tree with bright orange fruit you eat whole. Below are the questions Valley homeowners ask most, from eating the fruit to size, 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.
How do you eat Nagami kumquats?
Eat the small oval fruit whole, skin and all. The peel is sweet and the flesh is tart, and the fruit is also used for marmalade.
How big does a Nagami kumquat get in Arizona?
Expect about 10 to 15 feet tall and 8 to 10 feet wide in the ground. It is a small evergreen tree that suits patios and smaller yards.
Nagami vs Meiwa kumquat
Nagami has oval, tart fruit with a few seeds and is the most common kumquat. Meiwa has round, sweeter, juicier fruit with almost no 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 kumquats in the Valley
Kumquats ripen from about October through March and can hold fruit on the tree for months.
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.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.