Citrus

 -­‐  Calamondin  
×  Citrofortunella  microcarpa  (Bunge)  Wijnands    
Rutaceae  
 

Species  description  
Calamondin  is  an  upright,  cylindrical  citrus  tree  with  
dense,  small,  glossy,  evergreen  leaves.  Fruits  are  small,  
round,  and  orange  at  maturity,  and  contain  many  
seeds.  The  fruit  rind  is  thin,  finely  pitted,  and  smooth.  
Inside,  the  flesh  is  tender,  acidic,  and  very  juicy.  
Calamondin  trees  flower  and  set  fruit  throughout  the  
year,  and  are  a  decorative,  edible  tree  that  may  be  
grown  in  pots.  Outside,  in  good  growing  conditions,  
calamondin  trees  can  grow  20-­‐30  feet  high  and  live  for  
more  than  50  years.  Calamondins  are  more  cold  
tolerant  than  any  other  true  citrus  species,  but  they  
are  still  limited  to  low  desert  regions  in  Arizona.  

Natural  and  cultural  history  

Calamondin  trees  are  of  Chinese  origin,  and  the  fruit  was  distributed  early  and  widely  
throughout  Orient,  including  Indonesia  and  the  Philippines.  The  trees  were  introduced  to  the  
U.S.  as  an  "acid  orange,"  circa  1900.  The  tree  has  since  found  a  market  as  an  ornamental,  
though  the  acidic  fruit  also  has  many  culinary  uses.  

Planting  considerations  and  propagation  techniques  

Calamondin  trees  prefer  full  sunlight  and  space  to  grow,  however,  they  can  also  be  grown  quite  
well  in  containers  or  small  garden  spaces.  Flowers  are  self-­‐fertile  and  require  no  cross-­‐
pollination,  though  honeybees  effectively  pollinate  flowers.  Citrus  can  grow  on  a  wide  range  of  
soil  types,  from  sand  to  loam  to  heavy  clay  as  long  as  they  are  well  drained.  The  ideal  soil  pH  for  
citrus  trees  ranges  from  6-­‐6.5.  
Calamondin  trees  may  be  easily  grown  from  seeds  or  from  rooted  cuttings.  Common  grafting  
techniques  for  citrus  are  T-­‐budding  or  chip-­‐budding.  Budding  should  be  practiced  when  
seedling  stems  are  roughly  the  size  of  a  pencil  and  when  bark  of  the  rootstock  is  slipping.  
Budwood  should  be  collected  from  healthy  trees  and  should  be  about  the  same  diameter  as  the  
rootstock.  Budding  season  takes  place  immediately  before  spring  growth.  A  seedling  tree  will  
produce  a  crop  of  fruit  at  the  age  of  two  years  and  will  continue  to  bear  nearly  year  round.    

Water  needs  
Citrus  need  about  4-­‐6  inches  of  water  per  month  in  the  summer.  Calamondin  trees  are  slightly  
more  drought  tolerant  than  most  citrus.  

 
Care  
Citrus  trees  should  be  trained  to  a  suitable  shape  with  an  open  center.  There  are  three  primary  
pruning  objectives:  increase  total  leaf  area,  improve  airflow  through  the  canopy,  and  increase  
light  to  the  branches.  Proper  training  keeps  trees  the  correct  size  for  ease  of  care  and  harvest.    
Citrus  are  prone  to  many  diseases  and  pests.  We  recommend  consulting  a  Cooperative  
Extension  citrus  specialist.  
(See  Yuma  Cooperative  Extension,  https://extension.arizona.edu/yuma;  and  
http://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/pubs/az1492.pdf).  

Harvesting  and  processing    

Calamondin  fruits  are  small  and  thin-­‐skinned,  best  used  within  a  week  after  harvest  if  not  
refrigerated.  When  picking  the  fruit,  use  clippers  or  scissors  to  cut  the  fruit  from  tree,  rather  
than  pulling  them.  This  will  keep  the  stem  end  of  the  fruit  from  tearing,  which  promotes  
deterioration.  Calamondin  juice  can  be  used  like  lemon  or  lime  juice  to  make  refreshing  
beverages,  flavor  fish,  to  make  cakes,  marmalades,  pies,  preserves,  sauces  and  to  use  in  soups  
and  teas.  Juice  is  best  in  acid  beverages  and  desserts.  

References  and  resources  

AZ  Citrus.  http://www.azcitrus.com  
Gmitter,  F.G.,  J.  Soneji,  M.N.  Rao,  and  S.  Huang.  Citrus  spp.,  pp.  773-­‐784.  Eds.  Janick,  J.  and  R.E.  Paull.  The  
Encyclopedia  of  Fruit  and  Nuts.  CABI  Publishing,  Cambridge,  MA.  
Morton,  J.  1987.  Calamondin,  pp.  176–178.  In:  Fruits  of  warm  climates.  Julia  F.  Morton,  Miami,  FL.  
https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/calamondin.html  
Page,  M.  2008.  Growing  Citrus:  How  to  Grow  Citrus  in  Containers,  Conservatories,  and  the  Open  Garden.  Timber  
Press,  Portland,  London.  
Plants  for  a  Future  (PFAF).  n.d.  Citrofortunella  microcarpa  -­‐  (Bunge.)Wijnands.  
http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Citrofortunella+microcarpa  
Soost,  R.K.  and  M.  Roose.  1996.  Citrus,  pp.  257-­‐324.  Eds.  J.  Janick  and  J.N.  Moore.  Fruit  Breeding,  Volume  I  Tree  
and  Tropical  Fruits.  John  Wiley  &  Sons,  New  York,  NY.  
University  of  Arizona  Cooperative  Extension.  2000.  Irrigating  citrus  trees,  publication  AZ  1151.  
http://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/pubs/az1151.pdf  
University  of  California  at  Riverside.  Citrus  Variety  Collection.  Calamondin.  
http://www.citrusvariety.ucr.edu/citrus/calamondin.html  
Useful  Tropical  Plants.  2016.  Citrofortunella  x  microcarpa.  
http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Citrofortunella+x+microcarpa  
 

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