How to Grow Kumquats in the US

Updated September 2026

The small, cold-tolerant citrus you eat skin and all

Kumquats are small citrus trees with bite-sized fruit that you eat whole. The peel is sweet and the flesh is tart. The trees stay compact, look good in a pot and handle more cold than oranges, grapefruit or lemons, which makes kumquat one of the best citrus choices outside the warmest parts of the country.

This guide covers where kumquats grow outdoors, the best varieties, care and citrus pests. For container growing, also see our guide to growing citrus in pots.

Where Kumquats Grow in the US

Kumquat is one of the two safest citrus for North Florida and one of the safest for the Gulf South (both zones 8b to 9a): plant from February to April once hard freezes have passed. It is hardy enough for much of Central and East Texas; plant in March or April after the last frost and cover it in a hard freeze. In Central Florida plant from September to March, and in South Florida from October to March, in the cooler, drier months so roots settle before the summer rains. Buy certified trees and watch for citrus greening.

In the Desert Southwest, plant in February, March or October to miss the summer heat, and wrap or paint the trunk against sunburn. Southern California plants in March, April or October, and kumquat is very happy in a large pot on a sunny patio there. In Northern California and the Central Valley it is among the hardiest citrus and comes through valley frosts once established; plant from February to April. Hawaii's lowlands grow it well, planted in spring or fall. In the Mid-South, the Southern Plains, the Pacific Northwest, the Mid-Atlantic, the Northeast and New England, the Midwest and Great Lakes, the Upper Midwest and Northern Plains and the Mountain West, winters are too cold for citrus outdoors, so grow a dwarf tree in a container and bring it inside for winter. In Alaska keep the container indoors under grow lights. Kumquat is the hardiest citrus, but even the Mid-South is too cold to leave it out. Choose your region below for local planting months.

Varieties to Try

Nagami

The most common kumquat, with oval, bright orange fruit. Tart and aromatic, it is the classic choice for marmalade and candying.

Meiwa

Round fruit with a thicker, sweeter peel. The best kumquat for eating fresh straight from the tree.

Fukushu

Larger, round fruit on a compact, bushy tree with broad leaves. Attractive in a pot.

Dwarf kumquat

Any variety grafted onto a dwarfing rootstock such as Flying Dragon, which keeps the tree small for containers and hardens it to cold.

Planting

Plant in the months shown for your region. Kumquats need full sun, at least six to eight hours a day, and soil that drains well. Avoid low spots where cold air collects. In a cool region, plant against a wall that faces south, which holds heat on freeze nights.

A kumquat grows about 5 to 10 feet tall, so allow about 6 or 7 feet between plants. Dig a wide hole no deeper than the root ball, keep the graft union well above the soil, water in and mulch, keeping mulch clear of the trunk. In a pot, start with a container at least 16 inches wide and a free-draining citrus or potting mix.

Care and Pollination

Pollination: kumquats are self-fruitful, so one tree is enough. Bees visiting the summer flowers help fruit set.

Feeding: Feed three times a year with a citrus-specific fertilizer: in early spring, late spring and midsummer. See our fertilizing guide for more on choosing and using fertilizer.

Water: water deeply and let the top of the soil dry a little between waterings. Potted trees need water when the top inch or two of mix is dry, which can be daily in summer heat.

Cold protection: kumquats slow down in cool fall weather, which is part of why they handle cold well. On freeze nights, water the soil beforehand and cover young trees to the ground with frost cloth, keeping plastic off the leaves. Move potted trees under cover.

Pests and Diseases

These are the problems US gardeners are most likely to meet:

Asian citrus psyllid: A tiny sap-sucking insect that spreads huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening, the most serious citrus disease in the US. There is no cure once a tree is infected. Buy only certified, disease-free trees, do not move citrus plants or cuttings across state or quarantine lines, and report suspected HLB to your local agricultural extension office.
Citrus canker: A bacterial disease found in Florida that leaves raised, corky spots with a yellow halo on leaves, twigs and fruit. It spreads in wind-driven rain and on tools. Prune out affected shoots in dry weather and clean your pruners between trees.
Citrus leafminer: Silvery trails in new leaves. Spray new growth with horticultural oil.
Scale: Brown or white bumps on stems and leaves. Spray with horticultural oil.

For detailed pest management instructions, see our organic pest management guide.

Tip: Yellowing leaves on citrus are almost always a feeding problem, not a disease. If your kumquat has pale or yellow leaves, increase feeding before looking for pests.

Harvest and Storage

Kumquats ripen from late fall into winter. Pick them when they are fully orange, snipping the stem with pruners rather than pulling so the peel does not tear. The fruit holds on the tree for weeks, so you can pick as you need it.

Picked kumquats keep for about a week at room temperature and 2 to 3 weeks in the fridge. Roll a fruit between your fingers before eating to release the oils in the peel.

Track Your Kumquat Tree

Add kumquats to your garden in the Planting Season app and get reminders for feeding, pest checks and harvest time.

Open the App →

Frequently Asked Questions

How cold hardy is a kumquat tree?

Kumquat is among the most cold-hardy citrus, and established trees come through frosts that damage oranges and lemons, especially after a cool fall. In North Florida, the Gulf South and much of Central and East Texas it grows outdoors with frost cloth on hard freeze nights. In colder regions grow it in a container and bring it inside for winter.

Can I grow a kumquat in a pot?

Yes. Kumquat is one of the best citrus for pots. Use a container at least 16 inches wide with drainage holes, a free-draining mix, a sunny spot and regular citrus feeding. Move it under cover before freezes.

How do you eat a kumquat?

Eat it whole, peel and all. Roll it between your fingers first to release the sweet oils in the peel, then bite in and spit out any seeds.

When should I plant a kumquat tree in the US?

Plant in spring in North Florida, the Gulf South, Texas and Northern California, once hard freezes have passed. In South Florida plant from October to March, and in Southern California and the Desert Southwest plant in spring or October. Use the calendar above for your region.