Kumquat Nagami - Fortunella margarita

The Kumquat 'Nagami', Fortunella margarita in Latin, is one of the most easily grown citrus trees in our climate due to its good cold resistance. It is cultivated and appreciated for its ornamental qualities and for its edible and aromatic fruits that are consumed with the skin. This 'Nagami' variety, vigorous, fruitful and fairly fast-growing, produces numerous elongated fruits that ripen to orange, larger but less sweet than round Kumquats. It produces small, remarkably fragrant citrus flowers in summer that perfume a whole area of the garden or terrace, and in winter its beautiful fruits can be used to make delicious jams and confectioneries in the kitchen. 

The Fortunella margarita, also known as 'Nagami', is undoubtedly the most commonly marketed species of Kumquat (of which there are two). Named Fortunella in honor of Robert Fortune, who introduced them to Europe in 1846, Kumquats should be classified under the Citrus genus according to recent studies.

It is a spiny bush of the Rutaceae family, with a rather upright bushy habit, originating from southern China, specifically from the province of Canton. In nature, it reaches a height of 3 or 4 m (13ft). In our climate, it will reach an average height of 2.50m (8ft) with a spread of 1.50m (5ft), and its size will be even smaller if grown in a pot. Its growth rate is moderate. Relatively hardy, it can be planted in the ground in many regions spared from severe frost. Elsewhere, it will be grown in a pot and stored away at the first cold spells. The Kumquat produces small white flowers with a sweet fragrance characteristic of orange blossom, which give way to small elongated fruits, 2 cm (1in) in diameter and 3 to 3.5 cm (1in) long. They are harvested when ripe, usually from January to March, when they have a beautiful bright orange colour. The moderately thick skin is free from the burning principle found in other citrus fruits. It has a sweet flavour and a subtle bitter orange aroma. The juicy pulp, very acidic and not very sweet, contains few seeds. The evergreen leaves are dark green and shiny on the upper side, paler underneath. Like all Citrus, the Fortunella contains essential oil pockets in its leaves, flowers, and fruits, which can be extracted by distillation (flowers and leaves) or by pressing (zest).

The Kumquat is one of the hardiest citrus trees. It is important to note that while the plant can withstand temperatures as low as -10 to -12°C (14 to 10.4°F) without damage, the fruits are destroyed below -4°C (24.8°F), which is unfortunate for the harvest, which takes place in winter. The fruit can be used in savoury or sweet dishes, in jams, candied in sugar, or prepared in syrup. Its subtle flavour pairs well with savoury dishes like tagines or the famous duck à l'orange. Kumquats can also be used to make refined sweet and sour sauces to accompany Asian dishes. The skin of the kumquat is pleasant on the palate, providing an explosion of flavours when the fruit is consumed as is. If you appreciate tangy flavors, you will enjoy the balanced marriage of acidity and sweetness that is unique to this fruit.

Most citrus trees thrive in the ground in Mediterranean coastal regions where they find the necessary year-round warmth. Kumquats are self-fertile bushes, which means that a single plant is sufficient for fruiting. However, if your citrus tree remains indoors permanently, you will need to occasionally let in pollinators or delicately perform hand pollination.