Limequat
Citrus × floridana
Family: Rutaceae
The limequat is a citrus hybrid that is the result of a cross between the Key lime and the kumquat, hybridized by Walter Tennyson Swingle in 1909. It is a small tree that grows into a contained bushy form. The leaves are characteristically citrus-like. The limequat produces an abundance of fruit even at a young age. The fruit is small, oval, greenish-yellow and contains seeds or pips. It has a sweet-tasting skin and a bitter-sweet pulp with a flavor similar to limes. The fruit can be eaten whole or the juice and rind can be used to flavor drinks and dishes. It has considerable amounts of vitamin C and is highly acidic.
Limequats are used in cocktails and fruit salads, and can be candied whole. They can be cooked if the seeds are removed, as they impart a bitter taste, and they can also be made into conserves.
Limequats are available on a range of rootstocks, and most often found on dwarf rootstock, reaching only 6’ tall, or semi dwarf reaching 10’-15’ tall.
GROWING
Limequats should be planted in amended soil, in full sun. Plant appreciate mulching so long as you don’t bury the root flare of the tree.
How often you water depends on your soil, and the method of watering that you use. In winter, once a month deeply is sufficient. As it warms up in the spring, go to every other week, again…deeply. In the height of summer you might water once a week to every two weeks, deeply. Pull back watering in September to harden off new growth.
Feed citrus trees with an organic, general purpose fertilizer once a month February through August. Or you can feed three times a year in February, May, and August.
Pruning isn’t necessary, in our opinion, except for grafted trees—prune any branches that emerge from below the graft scar, as these branches will not produce the fruits you aim to grow, but from the root stock.
This plant is hardy into the low 20s°F, which is very cold hardy for a citrus. But if the temperatures dip into that range, protect them from frost.
You might notice a few species of butterfly on your trees, and their larvae. Citrus trees provide as larval hosts for a few species of swallowtail, especially the giant swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes)—the larvae look like bird poop, an excellent camouflage to protect themselves from predators.