Hardy Citrus Atlas

Fresh eating

A potted citrus plant bearing orange fruit on a patio

Orangequat

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Orangequat (Citrus sinensis × Fortunella margarita) is a hybrid between the sweet orange and the Nagami kumquat, selected to combine the sweetness of the orange with the edible skin of the kumquat. The hardiness reference retained for the tree is 14°F (−10°C), to be read in light of the individual plant and its microclimate. The compact tree reaches 7 to 10 ft (2 to 3 m) with a rounded habit, glossy evergreen foliage, and very fragrant white flowers in spring. Its bright orange fruit, small to medium at 1.8 to 2.8 oz (50 to 80 g), with thin, soft, fragrant skin, ripen in winter and offer a unique taste experience combining pulp as sweet as an orange and crunchy sweet skin like a kumquat, to be eaten whole like kumquats. Excellent candied, in marmalade, and fresh for enthusiasts. Very ornamental. Graft onto Poncirus trifoliata, plant against a south-facing wall.

A potted citrus plant bearing yellow fruit against a wall

Four Seasons Citrangequat

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Four Seasons citrangequat (× Citroncirus × Fortunella ‘Four Seasons Citrangequat’) is a triple hybrid combining kumquat, orange, and Poncirus trifoliata, selected for its almost continuous fruiting all year round in favorable climates. Its tree hardiness reaches 14°F (−10°C), making it suitable for in-ground growing in USDA zone 8a-8b. The compact tree reaches 7 to 10 ft (2 to 3 m) with a rounded, thorny habit, semi-evergreen foliage, and almost continuous fragrant white bloom. Its golden-orange, pear-shaped fruit, about 3.1 in (8 cm) according to the Arche du Livradois, with thin skin, ripen in successive waves over several months and hold a very fragrant, acidic juice with an intense zest, and edible skin like that of kumquats. Excellent candied, in liqueur, in marmalade, and fresh. Very ornamental thanks to the simultaneous presence of flowers and fruit at different stages. Graft onto Poncirus trifoliata.

Whole and halved dark red-fleshed citrus fruit on a kitchen board

Moro Blood Orange

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Origin: Moro blood orange (Citrus sinensis ‘Moro’) is one of the most iconic and most deeply pigmented blood oranges there […]

Orange citrus fruit beside visibly trifoliate leaves

Morton Citrange

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Morton citrange (× Citroncirus ‘Morton’) is one of the first Poncirus × orange hybrids ever selected, created by the American USDA program in the early 20th century. Its tree hardiness reaches 5°F (−15°C), among the hardiest edible citrus, making it viable in the ground up to USDA zone 7b. The vigorous tree reaches 10 to 16 ft (3 to 5 m) with an upright, thorny habit, semi-evergreen trifoliate foliage like its Poncirus parent, and white spring flowers. Its yellow-orange fruit, 3.5 to 7 oz (100 to 200 g) with thick skin, ripen in winter and give a markedly sour juice with a sweet-orange aroma, acceptable as juice, in marmalade, or as a cocktail base. A historic reference of the American hardy hybridization program. Graft onto Poncirus trifoliata; it will take continental winters without flinching. Well-drained soil; a south wall is recommended.

A historic botanical illustration of a cut citrus fruit

Marsh Seedless Grapefruit

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Origin: Marsh Seedless grapefruit is one of the most iconic and widely grown grapefruit varieties in the world, a true […]

A framed historic botanical illustration of a whole citrus fruit

Foster Grapefruit

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Origin: The Foster grapefruit is a historic Citrus paradisi cultivar native to Florida. It is a sport (spontaneous bud mutation) […]

Whole and cut pink-fleshed citrus fruit

Welker Grapefruit

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Origin: The Welker grapefruit (Citrus paradisi ‘Welker’) is a variety selected specifically for its exceptional cold resistance among Citrus paradisi. […]

A small citrus tree bearing orange fruit in a garden

Ponkan Mandarin

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Origin: The Ponkan mandarin, or Citrus reticulata ‘Ponkan’, has been one of the most widely grown and appreciated mandarins in […]

Three yellow-orange citrus fruit on a leafy branch

Keraji Voss D14 Mandarin

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The Keraji Voss D14 mandarin (Citrus keraji ‘Voss D14’) is a clonal selection of the classic Keraji made by the German breeder Bernhard Voss, numbered D14 in his hardy hybridization program. Its hardiness reaches 14°F (−10°C) on the tree, slightly lower than the standard Keraji, but with improved taste or productive quality. Growable in the ground in USDA zones 8a to 8b. The compact tree reaches up to 13 ft (4 m) according to Vessière, with a rounded habit, aromatic evergreen foliage, and fragrant white flowers. Its yellow-orange fruit, round-flattened and small (1.2 to 2 in, or 3 to 5 cm), with thin skin that is very easy to peel, is harvested from September to November, with full maturity in November according to Vessière, with juicy flesh balanced between sweetness and acidity, with subtle floral notes characteristic of the Keraji. A few seeds. Graft onto Poncirus trifoliata, south-facing wall.

Small round yellow citrus fruit among leaves

Nordmann Kumquat

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The Nordmann kumquat (Fortunella margarita ‘Nordmann Seedless’) is a seedless selection of the Nagami kumquat found in Florida, chosen for its taste quality and productivity superior to classic varieties. The 14°F (−10°C) reference for the tree remains indicative, for lack of a Nordmann-specific threshold verified in this review; it does not guarantee in-ground cultivation. The compact shrub reaches 6.5 to 10 ft (2 to 3 m) with a dense rounded habit, glossy evergreen foliage, and highly fragrant white flowers in summer. Its bright orange oval fruit, slightly larger than classic Nagami, with sweet, fragrant skin, seedless (a distinctive trait), ripens in fall and winter and is eaten whole: sweet skin and tart pulp. Excellent candied, in marmalade, in liqueur, and in sweet-and-savory dishes. Ideal for anyone who wants to avoid seeds. Graft onto Poncirus trifoliata or Flying Dragon.

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