fruit vegetable

Yuzu

$102.95

The Story

Plant Bio

Citrus x junos, the yuzu, is an upright thorny evergreen shrub to small tree reaching eight to ten feet in the ground in American gardens, with glossy dark-green leathery leaves that release citrus oil when crushed. The flowers are small white strongly scented blossoms borne singly or in small clusters in spring, followed by aromatic yellow fruit that ripens in fall to early winter.

It is a three-species hybrid of ichang papeda, pummelo and sour mandarin, and it is the most cold-hardy citrus for in-ground planting to Zone 7. Stems carry sharp spines to two inches long, new growth emerges light green, and established plants hold foliage near 20F and resprout after short dips far lower.

Uses & Benefits:

Compact evergreen structure with glossy foliage, scented white bloom and yellow winter fruit.

Intensely aromatic rind and juice for cooking; most cold-hardy citrus for Zone 7 gardens and pots.

Spring flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees; self-fertile so no second tree needed.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Fruit Vegetable

Height

120"

Width

118"

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

7, 8, 9, 10

Water

Medium

Humidity

Moderate

Lifespan

Long-lived woody perennial

Native To

Central China, Japan, Korea

Toxicity

Non-toxic; spines sharp, rind oil phototoxic in sun

Bloom period

Early spring – Spring

In flower about 3 months of the year

Marketplace

Where to Buy

Fast Growing Trees

In Stock$102.95

Shipping costs Year-round shipping Free shipping

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in sheltered full sun with six to eight hours, on the south or west side of a wall in Zone 7.
Set the rootball level in deep loam enriched with compost, pH 5.0 to 7.0, that drains freely but holds moisture.
Water deeply to settle, then keep soil evenly moist with mulch clear of the trunk; never let it dry out or stand waterlogged.
Feed with balanced citrus fertilizer every six to eight weeks from early spring to late summer.
Prune lightly in late winter to remove dead, crossing and rootstock suckers, wearing gloves for the spines.

Pro Tip

Keep it in sheltered full sun with consistently moist soil and prune only lightly to shape; hard summer pruning forces tender flush that freezes, and seedling trees take many more years to fruit than grafted ones.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Provide sheltered full sun and steady moisture through fruit development.
Feed as a heavy feeder with balanced citrus fertilizer plus micronutrients.
Mulch to hold moisture and prune lightly each year to open the canopy.

Don't

Do not let the root zone dry out completely.
Do not cut hard into old wood in summer.
Do not plant in waterlogged soil or leave suckers below the graft.

Seasonal Care Calendar

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

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

SpecimenEdible gardenContainer plantingHedging/Screening

Companion Plants

Lavandula angustifolia Rosmarinus officinalis Thymus vulgaris Acca sellowiana

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Yuzu questions

What zones can Yuzu grow in?

Yuzu is hardy in USDA Zones 7–10: in that range it survives winter in the ground. Colder than Zone 7, grow it in a container you can move to shelter for the winter, or as an annual.

When does Yuzu bloom?

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

Does Yuzu need full sun?

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