The Calamondin – Citrus madurensis is a compact tree/shrub that is a hybrid between a sour mandarin and the cumquat. It is by far the most popular grown cumquat in Australia and is predominately grown as an ornamental tree.
This attractive, upright, evergreen shrub with glossy green leaves produces prolific, small, round, orange-like bitter fruit with a loose skin like mandarins.
Calamondin bear fragrant, creamy-white, starry blossoms in spring releasing a sweet, strong fragrance around your garden. In mid winter when the fruit is ripe, the tree is glowing with the glorious bright orange colour of the cumquats in fabulous contrast against the green foliage.
Fruit can be quite large (up to golf ball in size) and is very acidic and sour tasting, making it fairly inedible raw. It is mainly used in jams and marmalades or brandies and liqueurs or even pickled.
Ideal as a feature tree in the garden, perfect for pots in patios & courtyards, as a low hedge or standardised into a topiary ball. The Calamondin fruit is largely inedible raw, but is perfect for preserves, brandies, liqueurs, marmalades, pickles and crystallising.