Kumquat Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Kumquat

Malayan Kumquat foliage and fruit
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Sapindales
Family:	Rutaceae
Genus:	Citrus

Kumquats (also called cumquats) are small trees that grow tasty fruits. These fruits look a lot like tiny oranges. They are about the size of a large olive. Kumquats are tougher than other citrus plants, like oranges. They can handle harder growing conditions.

These special plants first grew in South Asia and the Asia-Pacific region. People in China wrote about kumquats as early as the 1100s! They have been grown for a long time in India, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Southeast Asia. A person named Robert Fortune brought them to Europe in 1846. Soon after, they came to North America.

What are Kumquats Like?
- Growing Conditions for Kumquats
- How Kumquats are Grown
Images for kids
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What are Kumquats Like?

A kumquat fruit growing on its branch.

Kumquat plants grow slowly. They are evergreen shrubs or small trees. This means they keep their green leaves all year. They usually grow to be about 2.5 to 4.5 meters (8 to 15 feet) tall. Their branches are thick and sometimes have small thorns.

The leaves are a dark, shiny green color. The flowers are pure white. They look a lot like the flowers on other citrus plants.

Growing Conditions for Kumquats

The 'Nagami' kumquat needs a hot summer to grow well. Temperatures between 25 °C (77 °F) and 38 °C (100.4 °F) are best. However, these plants are very strong. They can survive cold weather down to about -10 °C (14 °F). This is why they can grow in parts of China where it's too cold for other citrus fruits.

How Kumquats are Grown

Kumquats do not grow well from their own seeds. Instead, people use special ways to grow them. One way is called "vegetative propagation." This means growing a new plant from a part of an old plant.

Gardeners often use a "rootstock" from another citrus fruit. This is like using the roots of a strong orange tree. Then, they attach a kumquat branch to it. Other ways include "air layering" or using "cuttings." Cuttings are small pieces of the plant that are made to grow new roots. Like most citrus plants, kumquats can pollinate themselves. This means one plant can make fruit on its own.