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Fukushu kumquat

Citrus japonica ‘Fukushu’

A compact ornamental-and-edible kumquat bearing bright-orange fruit that can be eaten peel and all.

Edible peelCompactLandscape specimenContainer friendly

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Landscape layersLower canopy

Mature size

Usually 6–10 ft tall and wide

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

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

Hardy here

No separate figure exists for Fukushu. Like other kumquats, it takes 16 to 20°F with little wood damage. It doesn't need frost cover in Phoenix.

Leaves and wood: damaged below 18°F · Blossoms and fruit: below 28°F

Heat tolerance

Shade from late-afternoon sun

A small tree with thinner-skinned fruit than other kumquats. It flowers in summer, so keep it well watered then, and give it morning sun with some afternoon shade.

Sources:

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

Right plant, right place

Will Fukushu kumquat 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

Whole fresh fruit and preserves

Planting & stewardship

How to help Fukushu kumquat 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 ↗