Calamondin (Calamansi) Orange Tree

X Citrofortunella Microcarpa, Citrus Mitis, Panama Orange

The Calamondin (Calamansi ) tree is a cross between a tangerine and a kumquat, and produces a small, thin-skinned, tart citrus fruit that is great to eat out of hand, or for use as juice, in salads, and for cooking.

The Calamondin (Calamansi ) tree is a cross between a tangerine and a kumquat, and produces a small, thin-skinned, tart citrus fruit that is great to eat out of hand, or for use as juice, in salads, and for cooking. The fruit is orange, up to two or three inches across, and appears among dark green, glossy foliage.

Calamondins can be grown in the ground in USDA Zones 8 – 11, or in a container on a patio or indoors if you are in USDA Zones 4 – 11. Calamondin Trees reach a size of 6 to 8 feet when grown in the ground in a sunny location and within their ideal growing zones. Container-grown Calamondins grow to about 4 to 6 feet in height.

Calamansi Trees are represent good luck for the Chinese New Year!

Citrus Tree Care

Calamondins prefer slightly acidic, well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. You can add composted leaves or grass clippings to the soil to enrich the ground, and sand to encourage drainage. If you are growing your Calamondin tree in a pot, use potting soil amended with additional coarse sand and perlite for better drainage.

Calamondins are great for growing on a patio or indoors in a suitable container, as long as the tree gets as much light as possible. For the highest yield of fruit, the tree should receive at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. Always bring a potted Calamondin Tree indoors if freezing temperatures are possible. When moving a citrus tree’s location, some leaves may fall, but they will naturally grow back.

Fruit & Harvesting

Calamondins bloom at various times across the entire year, but the heaviest bloom appears in early spring. This produces fruit that is ready to use from June through November. Because of this, Calamondins have become a favorite around the holidays. Use clippers to harvest fruit when it is bright orange and has a tart but refreshing taste.

The best way to know if any citrus is ready, is to do a taste test. If the Calamondin is less than juicy and has a more acidic taste, wait for one week and do another taste test. Since Calamondins can bloom at different times, focus more on fruit color and size to determine maturity, rather than the specific time of the season.

Advice

Calamondins are a cross between a tangerine (or mandarin) and a kumquat. This makes for a more tart, small orange. As such, the fruit is very well suited for juice in place of limes, or as an ingredient in salsas, cakes, preserves, and marinades.

Always collect and remove any fallen fruit from the base of your Calamondin Tree, as decomposing fruit can encourage molds, fungi, and pests that can harm the tree. Also, be sure to remove any remaining fruit at the end of the season, and before the next main bloom in spring. This will help the tree to recover, and produce a healthy crop year after year.

Pests

A close-up reveals a green calamondin branch adorned with yellow fruit and a delicate white flower. Perched on the stem is a solitary mealybug, distinguished by its white, powdery exoskeleton. Pests such as aphids, thrips, and spider mites can weaken plants. Tiny pests like aphids, scale, and spider mites often appear on calamondin orange leaves and in node crevices. These tiny critters pierce plant leaves and suck out their sap. A few of these pests aren’t a big concern, but big outbreaks can weaken plants. If you notice these pests on your plant, wipe them off with a soapy rag or spray them with neem oil or insecticidal soap.

Diseases

Leaf mottling and citrus canker are two related symptoms of disease caused by the same bacterial pathogen. This bacterium causes lesions on leaves and fruit, as well as cankers that ooze orange in the branching nodes. Because this is such a debilitating and communicable disease, it is best to contact your extension office. They will advise you of the best course of action to take, which can sometimes mean removal of the tree.