Citrus x floridana, the highly fragrant limequat
Citrus × floridana
- Exposures
- Sun, Half-shade
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 9a (-6.7°C ≤ T° < -3.9°C)
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Family
- Rutaceae
- Genus
- Citrus
- Species
- Limequat Citrus × floridana
Other name:Citrofortunella floridana
As its name suggests, Citrus x floridana comes to us from Florida. But it didn't appear spontaneously in an orangery or garden in Daytona Beach. Limequat is the result of the work of Walter T. Swingle. More than a century ago, this botanist had the idea of crossing several species of the Rutaceae family. He obtained this shrub with its fragrant flowers and fruit by hybridizing a kumquat Citrus japonica) and a Limettier (Citrus aurantiifolia).
How to recognize Citrus x floridana or limequat?
Citrus x floridana is a shrub that reaches a height of three meters and a width of two at maturity. Its growth habit is bushy, compact and dense.
The trunk, with its brown bark, is short and highly branched. The branches, also short, are bristling with thorns.
Limequat's leaves are leathery, oval to elliptical and slightly glossy all year round. If you look closely, you'll notice darker spots on the dark green foliage. These are the essence pockets. They contain a fragrant oil, which is released when the leaf blades are crumpled.
But it's the white flowers above all that give off the typical citrus scent of neroli. Each flower measures no more than three centimetres. Citrus x Floriana flowers in spring, between March and June. Weather permitting, they bloom again in early autumn.
Each flower can produce a fruit. This lemon, round or more elongated, is no more than four centimetres in diameter. Depending on the variety, it may be light green or yellowish.
The fruit is edible. Its flavor is reminiscent of lime. Sweet and acidic, this citrus fruit is often used to spice up dishes and cocktails. But watch out for the seeds! Ingested in excessive quantities, they become toxic to animals. Limequat leaves and flowers, on the other hand, are harmless.
Our care tips
Maintaining a Citrus × floridana is not difficult. Above all, you need to protect it from frost in winter and provide it with the nutrients it needs to grow. With the right potting soil and regular fertilizing, you'll soon be enjoying your own citrus fruits.
Citrus × floridana citrus trees need regular watering all year round. During hot spells, water early in the morning or in the evening. Water evaporates less quickly, and your shrub benefits from it for longer.
Watering
Let the soil dry out on the surface between waterings. Water your Limequat with non-hard water, such as collected rainwater. To avoid water stress, make sure the water is at room temperature.
If you use a saucer or a planter, remove any standing water from the bottom. It may cause the roots to rot.
Repotting
In spring, transfer your Citrus × floridana to a larger pot, so that it can continue to grow.
When roots are sticking out of the pot or visible on the surface, it's time to repot!
To prepare your Citrus × floridana for repotting, soak the root ball. Then gently loosen the root ball.
Choose a terracotta pot or a wooden planter. Both materials promote water evaporation and reduce the risks associated with excessive watering. Make sure the container has drainage holes to allow water to drain.
Place a layer of clay pellets or gravel at the bottom to aid drainage.
Fill the rest with a rich substrate, such as a special citrus potting mix or general-purpose potting mix. You can make your own mix using:
- one-third potting mix;
- one-third garden soil;
- pozzolan.
Place your shrub in the center. The top of the root ball should be two centimeters below the rim of the pot. Fill in with substrate and firm it down to remove air pockets. When planting, be sure not to bury the root collar.
Fertilization
You can stimulate the development of your plant during its growth phase, in spring and summer, with fertilizer.
Citrus × floridana are greedy plants. They need to be fertilized. Feed yours with a special liquid or granulated citrus fertilizer.
Cleaning
The dust that accumulates on the leaves prevents photosynthesis. To ensure that your Limequat takes full advantage of the light, clean its foliage with a clean, damp cloth. Then wipe with a soft cloth.
Prune
Size is not essential. It only helps to control shape and development and improves fruiting. When pruning, always use clean, sharp pruning shears.
Citrus trees flower and fruit on the year's wood. To maintain the compact, rounded shape of your shrub, remove dead branches and shoots growing along the trunk. You can also aerate the center by removing some shoots that have already borne fruit in previous years.
If you want to improve your harvest, you can also carry out a fruiting pruning operation: one month after the appearance of a new shoot, prune it back to a height of 20 centimetres.
Pinch
Pinch your Citrus × floridana during its growing season.
To keep your Citrus × floridana compact, pinch a bud. You'll create new branches.
Planting
Once the last spring frosts have passed, you can plant.
Find them a place sheltered from the wind and isolated from other plants. Citrus plants have shallow roots and don't like to share their space.
Dig a hole 70 centimetres wide and 1 metre in diameter. While you're at it, soak the root ball.
Plant the plant in the middle, with the top of the rootball level with the ground. Take care not to bury the collar.
Citrus × floridana plants thrive in light, well-drained, rich soil. When filling in, add potting soil or citrus soil to your garden soil. Tamp and water.
Diseases / Threats
Information
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Exposures
- SunHalf-shade
- Substrate
- Humus soil
- Planting methods
- Open groundIn potsIn tubs
- Categories
- ShrubFruit tree
- Tags
- Edible fruitFlowery
- Origin
- North America
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 9a (-6.7°C ≤ T° < -3.9°C)
- Leaf color
- Dark green
- Flower color
- White
- Fruit colors
- Light greenYellow
Discover plants from the same family
Lemon tree
Citrus x limon
Clementine
Citrus x clementina
Mandarin
Citrus reticulata
Orange
Citrus sinensis
Find out more
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