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Citrus japonica - (Thunb.)Swingle.

Common Name Round Kumquat
Family Rutaceae
USDA hardiness 8-11
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Not known in a truly wild situation[132].
Range E. Asia - China, Japan.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Half Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Citrus japonica Round Kumquat


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:KENPEI
Citrus japonica Round Kumquat
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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Citrus japonica is an evergreen Shrub growing to 2.5 m (8ft 2in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9 and is frost tender. It is in leaf all year. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Citrus japonica.

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Fruit - usually cooked and used in jellies, preserves etc[183] or used as a flavouring, but it can also be eaten raw. The whole fruit, including the peel, is eaten[3, 132]. The fruit is acid whilst the peel is sweet[3, 132]. The peel is golden-yellow, smooth, thinner and somewhat sweeter than the oval kumquat, F. margarita[183]. The fruit is rich in pectin and makes excellent marmalades and jellies[240]. Vitamin C content is up to 0.24 mg/cc[240]. The fruit is about 4cm long[260].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


The plant is antiphlogistic, antivinous, carminative, deodorant, stimulant[178, 218]. The leaves and fruit contain an essential oil, whilst the fruit also contains sugars and organic acids[283]. The fresh fruit is antitussive and expectorant - in Vietnam it is steamed with sugar candy and used in the treatment of sore throats[283]. It is said to be very good for infants[283].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

The fresh leaves and young twigs yield 0.21% essential oil that might be suitable for perfumery[240].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a moderately heavy loam with a generous amount of compost and sand added and a very sunny position[200]. Prefers a pH of 5 to 6[200]. Plants are intolerant of water logging[200]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, when dormant it tolerates temperatures down to about -5°c[200]. The young growth in spring, even on mature plants, is frost-tender and so it is best to grow the plants in a position sheltered from the early morning sun[K]. Kumquats are widely cultivated in China for their edible fruit, there are many named varieties[3]. The plant is less vigorous, somewhat thorny and considerably more cold tolerant[183] (the report gives no details of what this is in comparison to!). Kumquats are hardier than the various Citrus species since they cease growth when temperatures drop below 13°c but, for best results, it is best to grow them in a climate where temperatures do not fall lower than between 4 and 10°c[3]. This is because the fruit is sweeter when it ripens in warm conditions[3].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a warm airy position in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick out the seedlings into individual pots and grow them on in a greenhouse for at least their first two winters. Plant out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts and give some winter protection from the cold for a year or two.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: China (Guangdong Sheng, Zhejiang Sheng), Hong Kong

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

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Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(Thunb.)Swingle.

Botanical References

200275

Links / References

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