fruit vegetable

Limequat

Citrus x floridana

$48.95

The Story

Plant Bio

Citrus x floridana, the limequat, is a man-made evergreen hybrid between Key lime and kumquat raised in Florida in 1909, with no wild native range. It forms a bushy compact dense shrub to small tree about 8 feet tall by 5 feet wide, bearing white fragrant citrus flowers from spring to summer followed by winter-ripening fruit.

It is more cold-hardy than true lime, holding to about 18F, and grows in full sun to partial shade in well-drained medium-light sand or limestone at pH 6 to 6.5. The name floridana records where it was bred, not a Florida nativity, and the Eustis type carries pale-yellow tart fruit about 1 inch long with a sweet edible peel.

Uses & Benefits:

Compact evergreen shrub with fragrant white flowers and winter fruit for containers and patios.

Yields small tart fruit with sweet edible peel for home use on a self-fruitful tree.

General citrus flowers support bees and other pollinators; not a hummingbird plant.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Fruit Vegetable

Height

96"

Width

60"

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

8, 9, 10

Water

Moderate

Humidity

Average

Lifespan

Long-lived evergreen shrub

Native To

Garden hybrid, Florida USA - no wild range

Toxicity

Toxic to dogs, cats and horses

Bloom period

Spring – Summer

In flower about 6 months of the year

Marketplace

Where to Buy

Fast Growing Trees

In Stock$48.95

Shipping costs Year-round shipping Free shipping

Planting

How to Grow

Set in full sun with shelter from cold wind and hot western sun, spacing to allow 5-foot spread.
Plant at nursery depth in well-drained loam or sand at pH 6.0 to 6.5, never in heavy flooded soil.
Water deeply once a week, checking moisture every 1 to 2 days in heat; do not water daily.
Feed with a citrus fertilizer guided by a soil test, liming to hold pH near 6.0.
Tip-prune lightly as needed for airflow and light; protect below 18F.

Pro Tip

Prune lightly only to open airflow and admit light; cutting hard into old wood reduces leaf area and next winter's crop.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Grow in full sun to partial shade in well-drained soil.
Water deeply weekly and mulch to hold even moisture.
Feed as a citrus with soil-test guidance.
Monitor for scale, mites and leafminer and treat with horticultural oil.

Don't

Do not plant in heavy clay or flood-prone ground.
Do not prune hard every year or strip leaf area.
Do not allow dogs, cats or horses to chew leaves, peel or oils.

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Fertilize
Harvest
Pest Check
Plant
Prune

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

ContainerPatioSpecimenEdible garden

Companion Plants

Lavandula angustifolia Salvia officinalis Thymus vulgaris Punica granatum

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Limequat questions

What zones can Limequat grow in?

Limequat is hardy in USDA Zones 8–10: in that range it survives winter in the ground. Colder than Zone 8, grow it in a container you can move to shelter for the winter, or as an annual.

When does Limequat bloom?

Limequat typically blooms from spring to summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Limequat need full sun?

Limequat does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.