Variegated Centennial Kumquat Live Plant – Citrus Tree 1 to 2 Feet Tall in 1 Gallon Pot, Perennial Fruit Tree

Overview

Discover the joy of growing your own citrus with the exquisite Variegated Centennial Kumquat live plant. This captivating citrus tree, known scientifically as Citrus japonica ‘Centennial’, offers a unique blend of ornamental beauty and delicious, edible fruit. Unlike typical kumquats, the Centennial variety boasts striking variegated foliage, featuring splashes of cream, yellow, and green, making it a stunning addition to any patio, garden, or even as an indoor specimen in cooler climates. This live plant arrives ready for planting, typically 1 to 2 feet tall in a 1 gallon pot, ensuring a healthy start for your new perennial fruit tree. Imagine harvesting your own sweet-tart kumquats, perfect for snacking, preserves, or garnishing. The Variegated Centennial Kumquat live plant is a versatile and rewarding choice for both seasoned gardeners and enthusiastic beginners looking to expand their edible landscape.

Originating from Asia, kumquats are known for their small, oval-shaped fruit that can be eaten whole, peel and all. The Centennial variety adds an extra layer of visual appeal with its vibrant leaves and often striped fruit. This makes it not just a producer of tasty fruit but also a focal point in your plant collection. Whether you’re looking to enhance your outdoor garden or bring a touch of the exotic indoors, this Variegated Centennial Kumquat live plant promises to be a delightful and productive choice.

Key Benefits

The Variegated Centennial Kumquat live plant offers a multitude of benefits, combining aesthetic appeal with practical fruit production. This unique citrus tree is a fantastic choice for any plant enthusiast.

• Stunning Variegated Foliage: Enjoy the year-round beauty of cream, yellow, and green variegated leaves, making this plant a vibrant ornamental feature even when not fruiting. It adds an exotic touch to any space, enhancing visual interest.
• Delicious Edible Fruit: Produce your own sweet-tart kumquats, perfect for fresh eating, marmalades, desserts, or as a garnish. The fruit is known for its enjoyable flavor, where the sweet rind contrasts with the tart pulp.
• Compact Growth Habit: This citrus tree typically grows to a manageable height of 6–10 feet in the ground, making it suitable for container growing on patios or decks, and even indoors in sunny locations. Its compact nature makes it an ideal choice for smaller spaces.
• Fragrant Blooms: Experience the delightful aroma of white, star-shaped flowers that precede the fruit. These fragrant blooms not only add to the plant’s beauty but also attract pollinators.
• Versatile Growing Options: Thrive in USDA Zones 8 to 11 outdoors, and can be successfully grown indoors in cooler climates with adequate light, bringing a touch of the tropics to your home. This adaptability makes the Variegated Centennial Kumquat live plant a great option for various environments.
• Relatively Low Maintenance: Once established, this kumquat tree is fairly easy to care for, requiring consistent watering and appropriate sunlight. Proper Centennial Kumquat tree care ensures a healthy and productive plant.
• Long-Lived Perennial: Invest in a plant that will provide beauty and fruit for many years to come, becoming a cherished part of your garden or home.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Proper care is essential for a thriving Variegated Centennial Kumquat live plant. This citrus variety, while relatively hardy, benefits from specific conditions to ensure healthy growth and abundant fruit production. Sunlight is paramount; your kumquat tree requires at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily. If growing indoors, place it near a south-facing window or supplement with a grow light. Outdoors, choose a sunny, sheltered location that protects it from strong winds. Consistent watering is also critical. The soil should be kept consistently moist but never waterlogged. Allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out slightly between waterings, especially in containers. Overwatering can lead to root rot, so ensuring good drainage is key. This plant thrives in a temperature range of 55–85°F.

For optimal growth, use a well-draining soil mix specifically formulated for citrus or a general potting mix amended with perlite or sand to improve drainage. When growing in containers, ensure the pot has drainage holes. Feed your kumquat fruit tree with a balanced citrus fertilizer during the growing season (spring through fall) according to package directions. Reduce fertilization in winter. Prune your tree in late winter or early spring to maintain shape, remove dead or crossing branches, and encourage air circulation. Watch out for common citrus pests like aphids, scale, or spider mites; treat them promptly with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap. Understanding Centennial Kumquat tree care will help you successfully grow kumquat indoors or outdoors, leading to a bountiful harvest and a beautiful plant.

Size & Details

This Variegated Centennial Kumquat live plant arrives as a healthy, actively growing specimen, typically standing 1 to 2 feet tall from the base of the pot to the top of the foliage. It is carefully nurtured in a 1 gallon nursery pot, providing it with a robust root system for easy transplanting. When mature and grown in ideal ground conditions, this perennial fruit tree can reach a height of 6–10 feet (1.8–3 meters), though it will remain more compact when cultivated in containers. The plant exhibits a moderate growth rate, allowing you to enjoy its development over time. Its distinctive variegated foliage, which includes shades of green, cream, and yellow, provides year-round visual interest. The fruit production generally begins within a few years of planting, offering a rewarding experience for the grower. This plant is shipped in its nursery pot, ensuring minimal stress during transit and a smooth transition to its new home.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this Variegated Centennial Kumquat live plant get? A: When grown in the ground, the Variegated Centennial Kumquat live plant can reach a mature height of 6–10 feet (1.8–3 meters). In containers, its size can be managed through pruning, typically staying more compact.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: This kumquat fruit tree is shipped in a 1 gallon nursery pot, providing a healthy root system ready for transplanting into a larger container or directly into your garden.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: This kumquat tree is suitable for outdoor planting in USDA Zones 8 to 11. In cooler climates, it can be successfully grown indoors as a potted plant, provided it receives ample sunlight. It’s an excellent choice if you want to grow kumquat indoors.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: The Centennial Kumquat tree care requires at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth and fruit production. For indoor growing, a south-facing window is ideal.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, kumquat trees are generally considered relatively easy to care for, especially for those with some experience with fruit trees. Consistent watering, proper sunlight, and occasional fertilization are key.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your variegated citrus plant will arrive as a live, healthy plant in its 1 gallon nursery pot, carefully packaged to minimize stress during transit. Some leaf drop may occur due to shipping stress, but the plant will recover.
• Q: Can I eat the fruit from this kumquat tree? A: Absolutely! The Variegated Centennial Kumquat produces delicious, edible fruit that can be eaten whole, including the rind. They are known for their sweet rind and tart pulp.
• Q: How long until it blooms and produces fruit? A: With proper care, your kumquat tree may start blooming and producing fruit within 1-3 years of planting, depending on its age upon arrival and growing conditions.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: This kumquat variety is hardy in USDA Zones 8 to 11. If you live in a colder zone, you will need to bring the plant indoors during the winter months to protect it from frost.
• Q: What’s the minimum temperature this plant can tolerate? A: The Variegated Centennial Kumquat live plant prefers temperatures between 55–85°F. It can tolerate brief dips to around 20-25°F, but prolonged freezing temperatures will cause damage.