Fresh eating

Whole and halved orange citrus fruit on a kitchen board

Gosset Sweet Orange

Léo / January 22, 2026

Gosset sweet orange (Citrus sinensis ‘Gosset’) is a French sweet orange selection identified by the nurseryman Gosset in the 20th century for its adaptation to the French climate and its flavor quality. Its hardiness reaches 12°F (−11°C) on the tree, making it suitable for in-ground planting in USDA zone 8a. The vigorous tree reaches 10 to 16 ft (3 to 5 m) with a rounded habit, glossy evergreen foliage and highly fragrant white flowers in spring. Its bright orange fruit, medium to large, 7.1 to 9.9 oz (200 to 280 g), with thin skin that is moderately easy to peel, ripens in January to March with very juicy, sweet, delicately fragrant flesh. Excellent fresh, as freshly squeezed juice, and in fruit salad. A variety recommended for ornamental gardens in the southwest and Atlantic regions of France. Graft onto Poncirus trifoliata; plant against a south-facing wall in well-drained soil.

Halves of a small green-skinned citrus fruit showing seeds

Shekwasha Mandarin

Léo / January 21, 2026

Shekwasha mandarin (Citrus depressa) is a traditional citrus of the Okinawa archipelago, grown for centuries in subtropical Japanese coastal villages for its characteristic aromatic acidity. Its tree hardiness reaches 12°F (−11°C), making it suitable for in-ground growing in USDA zone 8a to 8b. The tree reaches up to 13 ft (4 m) according to Vessière, with a rounded habit, evergreen foliage, and fragrant white flowers. Its round, flattened fruit, bright green (harvested green) or yellow-orange (at full ripeness), small at 1 to 2 in (3 to 5 cm) and thin-skinned, ripens in fall and concentrates a very sour, fragrant juice with unique notes blending lime, wild mandarin, and yuzu. Essential in Okinawan cooking (fish, sauces, refreshing juice). Many seeds. Graft onto Poncirus trifoliata, plant against a south-facing wall.

A person harvesting orange citrus fruit beside a labeled tree

Nooka Kishu Mandarin

Léo / January 21, 2026

Origin: The Kishu is a very old variety, cultivated for centuries in China and Japan. The ‘Nooka’ selection (often associated […]

Whole and peeled orange citrus fruit on a plate

Harumi Mandarin 1

Léo / January 21, 2026

Harumi mandarin (Citrus reticulata ‘Harumi’) is a late Japanese selection from a cross between the Kiyomi and Ponkan mandarins, regarded as one of the world’s premium mandarins for its exceptional flavor quality. Its tree hardiness reaches 10°F (−12°C), making it suitable for in-ground growing in USDA zone 8a. The vigorous tree reaches 10 to 13 ft (3 to 4 m) with an upright habit, evergreen foliage, and fragrant white flowers. Its bright orange fruit, medium to large at 6.5 to 9 oz (180 to 250 g), with thin skin that is moderately easy to peel, ripens late (February to April), with very juicy, exceptionally sweet flesh, low in acidity, seedless or nearly so, and a complex, refined fragrance. Excellent fresh, as dessert, and in a late-winter fruit bowl. Graft onto Poncirus trifoliata, plant against a south-facing wall.

Small elongated orange citrus fruit among green leaves

Nameiwa Kumquat

Léo / January 21, 2026

Origin: Nameiwa kumquat is a superior selection of the famous Meiwa, the result of research to improve the latter’s size […]

A citrus plant in a blue pot beside a garden fence and label

Meiwa Kumquat

Léo / January 21, 2026

Meiwa kumquat (Citrus crassifolia ‘Meiwa’) is a natural hybrid between the Marumi and the Nagami, regarded as the sweetest kumquat and the most pleasant to eat raw. The hardiness reference retained for the tree is 10°F (−12°C); whether it can be grown in the ground depends on the plant and the microclimate. Native to Japan, where it is very popular, the compact shrub reaches 6 to 10 ft (2 to 3 m), with a dense, rounded habit and evergreen foliage. Its dark orange, oval-round fruit, larger than that of the Marumi or Nagami, has a sweet skin and a pulp with more moderate acidity than other kumquats. Excellent eaten whole like a natural candy, in salads, or candied. Fragrant summer flowering. Choosing Poncirus trifoliata does not remove the need to protect young plants and fruit from frost. Prefers a south-facing wall and well-drained soil.

A citrus plant bearing orange fruit in a terracotta pot

Fukushu Kumquat

Léo / January 21, 2026

Fukushu kumquat (Citrus obovata ‘Fukushu’), also called Changshou kumquat, is a Japanese variety that produces larger, sweeter fruit than classic kumquats. The hardiness reference retained for the tree is 14°F (−10°C), to be read with the conditions given in this entry. The compact shrub reaches 6 to 8 ft (2 to 2.5 m), with a rounded habit and glossy evergreen foliage. Its light orange, obovate fruit, 1.5 to 2 in (4 to 5 cm) long, has a thin, mild, fragrant skin and a pulp that recalls a mandarin more than the traditional kumquat. A flavor balanced between sweetness and acidity, excellent eaten whole or as juice. Abundant, fragrant spring flowering and a very ornamental habit. Choose a rootstock suited to the soil and climate, without attributing a fixed hardiness gain to it. Plant against a south-facing wall; well-drained soil is essential.

Gosset Sweet Orange

Shekwasha Mandarin

Nooka Kishu Mandarin

Harumi Mandarin 1

Nameiwa Kumquat

Meiwa Kumquat

Fukushu Kumquat

Centennial Variegated Kumquat

Citrus Lemonade

Amoa 8