Wholesale citrus

Calamondin

Citrus × microcarpa

Also known as Calamansi · Calamonding

A compact citrus with abundant small, tart fruit used throughout Southeast Asian cooking and drinks; well suited to containers and protected patios.

EdibleCalamansiCompactContainer friendly

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Landscape layersLower canopy

Mature size

Usually 6–12 ft; smaller in containers

Climate fit

Urban core · USDA 9b–10a · Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b · Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b

Special categories

EDIBLE

Winter chill

None

Typical harvest

Multiple flushes, often heaviest fall through winter

Before you plant

These conditions determine whether it will thrive.

Required microclimate

Placement is part of the growing system.

Zone D — morning shade and partial afternoon sun at the west end of the shadier north-facing side. Handles part shade and cold better than the rest of the genus.

Cold hardiness

Cover while young

Strongly cold-resistant, with kumquat in its family tree, and hardy to about 22°F. Cover it only its first two or three winters, until it is established.

Leaves and wood: damaged below 22°F · Blossoms and fruit: below 28°F

Heat tolerance

Shade from late-afternoon sun

No variety-specific heat data exists. It flowers and fruits off and on all year, and morning sun with some afternoon shade is the safe spot in Phoenix.

Sources:

gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu , citrusvariety.ucr.edu

Right plant, right place

Will Calamondin grow at your Arizona property?

Plant in fast-draining soil with the graft union above grade. Keep mulch away from the trunk and avoid lawn irrigation at the root crown.

Best regional fit: Urban core · USDA 9b–10a, Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b, Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b.

Light

Sun exposure

Full sun; young trunks and exposed scaffold limbs need sunburn protection

Water

Irrigation

Deep, regular irrigation with drying between cycles; expand the wetted zone as the canopy grows

Fruit set

Pollination

Self-fruitful

Harvest

How to use it

Juice, condiments, marinades, drinks, and preserves

Planting & stewardship

How to help Calamondin thrive

1
Verify both the named cultivar and rootstock on the nursery tag before planting.
2
Whitewash newly exposed bark and protect cold-sensitive trees during hard freezes.
3
Feed in several light applications during the active season rather than one heavy dose.
4
Let fruit color and flavor—not a calendar date alone—confirm harvest readiness.

Read the horticultural reference ↗