Description

Characteristics of Calamondin Orange Trees

Most often grown as a beautiful ornamental, the Calamondin Orange Tree, sometimes known as Calamonsi or Miniature Orange, also produces edible fruit. It is a cross between mandarin orange and kumquat, and it is originally from China. It has been grown in Florida since the early 1900’s and has been a popular potted plant for decades. This fruit tree is also known for being used for bonsai.

This is the perfect plant to accent your patio or sunroom—with the bonus of citrus fruit. Enjoy attractive green leaves, beautiful white blossoms, and orange-scented flowers. The Calamondin oranges are a vibrant yellow orange, and the tree can produce fruit year-round. Potted Calamondin trees should be brought indoors during winter months.

The Fruit

Calamondin oranges look like small oranges. They are slightly sour, making them more like limes and lemons in taste and use. The peels are edible, and the fruit is often eaten whole. Calamondin oranges contain fiber, potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin A.

The orange fruit is prized in marmalades. Bakers enjoy using Calamondin oranges in recipes to replace lemons or limes, such as bars, tarts, and cookies.

Growing Calamondin Orange Trees

Grown in the ground, these citrus trees can reach six to ten feet tall. In a garden pot, the tree’s height will be reduced by the size of the pot. This is a self-pollinating variety, so outdoor trees will produce fruit by natural means. Indoor trees can be pollinated by hand using a small paintbrush.

These citrus trees require moist, but not wet, soil, and should be watered deeply, but not frequently. See below for information on the tree’s characteristics and plant care.

Calamondin oranges are not commonly grown commercially, so you will not likely find them in your local grocery store. Buy a Calamondin orange tree and enjoy this beautiful plant and unique fruit!

Survival Guaranteed!

Since 1816, Stark Bro’s has promised to provide customers with the very best fruit trees and plants. It’s just that simple. If your trees or plants do not survive, please let us know within one year of delivery. We will send you a free one-time replacement, with a nominal shipping fee of $9.99. If the item in question is not available, we can issue a one-time credit to your account equaling the original product purchase price or issue you a refund. Read more about our warranty policy.

Characteristics

Bloom Color White
Fruit Color Orange
Fruit Size Small - Medium
Hardiness Zone Range 2 - 11, Outdoor Planting: 8 - 11
Pollination Self-Pollinating
Shade/Sun Partial Shade - Full Sun
Soil Composition Loamy
Soil Moisture Well Drained
Soil pH Level 6.0 - 7.5
Taste Sweet, Tart
Texture Juicy
Years to Bear 1 - 2

Size & Spacing

Mature Size

When your tree matures, it will be approximately 6 - 10' tall x 4 - 5' wide.

Recommended Spacing

We recommend spacing these trees 4 - 5' apart to ensure room for growth.

Zone Compatibility

This Variety's Zone Range 2 - 11 Outdoors: 8 - 11
My Hardiness Zone ?
The USDA hardiness zones offer a guide to varieties that will grow well in certain climates. Each zone corresponds to the minimum winter temperatures experienced in a given area. Make sure that your hardiness zone lies within the zone compatibility range of this variety before ordering.
This item can be grown in colder climates if it's planted in a container and brought indoors during the winter months. If you're planting it outdoors in the ground, we recommend being within the outdoor zone range.

Pollination

This variety is self pollinating.

In many cases, you may still want to plant pollinating partners to increase the size of your crops, but with self-pollinating varieties doing so is optional. You'll get fruit with only one plant!

Tools & Supplies

Having the proper tools and supplies when growing your own can make the difference between a good harvest and a great harvest! Here's a list that our experts recommend for this variety.

Planting & Care

Learn all about how to grow citrus trees in The Growing Guide. An entire section of our website dedicated to your growing success.

Shipping Information

Arrives when it's time to plant

Your success is our priority. We work hard to make sure that your order arrives at the ideal time for planting in your location based on your local climate conditions.

Tags

We've 'tagged' this item with specific keywords that help you find other products that share features or characteristics with this one. Select a tag below to view all the items that have that particular trait.

Questions & Answers

Have a question? Ask owners.Have a question about this? Ask people who own it.
Start typing and see existing answers.
75 Questions
Why did you choose this?

I love Calamondin plant and can’t resist the discounted price I got.

Because my wife wanted it and she is the boss!

This looked like the best small citrus for my small greenhouse and I love sour

Unsuccessful growing limes. This seems a good alternative and a good container plant that also produces useful fruit

is it from seed or grafted?

It is grafted

Are the lime, tangerine and calamondin trees grafted?

They're not grafted, but they are grown from rooted cuttings (not grown from seed).

Are calamondin orange trees budded?

They are budded/grafted onto a rootstock, yes.

I have purchased a calamondin orange tree. I live in zone 8b Seattle. I am wondering how cold a calamondin can withstand. Can I grow it outdoor ? There are different things being said on different websites that I looked up. Thank you for answering my question.

You are within the expected lower range of its growing zone (8) and would probably be safe unless you end up with a harsh winter. To be in the safe side I would not planting anything outside that is less than zone 7b hardy to ensure successful overwintering of your plants. That being said, You could probably get away with it if you added some winter protective measures for this tree in your zone.

to container plant, for inside during cold mos. how big of pot do I need?

Big as you can. Put on something with wheels if too big to move yourself. If your growing a tree in a container you won’t be constantly transplanting it so use the biggest you have the space for and can move. You can prune roots every few years as needed to keep the tree healthy in the pot. If your growing in your home Only use indoor potting soil. And any amendments should be free of pests or anything you don’t want in your house.

How tall is the plant upon shipping?

We appreciate you reaching out to us. These well roots plants ship approximately 6-12 inches tall.

If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to reach back out to us. Have a great day!

Can the calamondin fruit be eaten skin and all like a kumquat can?

Yes it can. It is somewhat bitter though in my opinion. I use them instead of lime in gin and tonics.

is this citrus tree is potted already?

This tree arrives in a 4" pot. If you purchase the Calamondin Orange Potted Kit, you will receive a larger 10" pot and matching saucer. ://www.starkbros.com/products/fruit-trees/citrus-trees/tangerine-potted-kit

Is this already producing?

The one I got from Stark already had a few green fruits on it when it arrived. it has continued to produce fruit over the last couple of years in increasing amounts.

I purchased this orange tree maybe 4-5 years ago? and it has still not bore any fruit.  It is planted in a pot and kept indoors. It has not had any blossoms at all ever.  Any ideas why it's not bearing fruit, or blossoms? They leaves are healthy, and there's new growth every year.

Echoing the earlier comment, I understand the calamondin/calamansi thrives best out of doors. It’s a tropical plant. We are in CT and only bring ours indoors when temperatures drop in late fall. Indoors we see that it is positioned at floor to ceiling windows where it gets plenty of light. It has not needed any special care and will yield fruit pretty continuously though not more than 5 or 6 at any given time.

Customer Reviews

51 Ratings
4.1out of 5 stars
51 Ratings

Rated 5 stars by 55% of reviewers

Rated 4 stars by 18% of reviewers

Rated 3 stars by 18% of reviewers

Rated 2 stars by 6% of reviewers

Rated 1 star by 4% of reviewers

1-10 of 51 Reviews
Rated 5 out of 5
Jul 20, 2025
Great little gem
I planted this in the ground along the side of my home. The plant is thriving and giving me alot of food. I rinse thoroughly and just pop them in my mouth. Love the little bit of sweet to sour. Very healthy plant
Rated 5 out of 5
Jun 9, 2025
Great citrus trees
Great productive citrus trees. Within months of planting, covered with flowers and now covered with fruit.
Rated 5 out of 5
May 15, 2025
My favorite plant
I get colamondins all year long. It's easy to take care of.
Rated 5 out of 5
Dec 13, 2024
A must have for the collection.
This is a great citrus. It fruited right away and has produced every 6 months. The fruit makes really good marmalade.
Rated 5 out of 5
Sep 30, 2024
Calamodin
Thee Calamodin have fruited and are continuing to bloom.
Rated 5 out of 5
Sep 29, 2024
Beautiful, robust and healthy calamondin tree
This calamondin (aka calamansi) was my first purchase from Stark Bros. and I couldn't be more pleased! Some other online vendors I've tried send out puny, small plants that can barely make it through delivery. In contrast, the Stark Bros plant I received was large, robust and healthy (see photo). I had to postpone repotting because we were having extreme heat when it arrived, so I parked it on a shaded patio table for what turned out to be nearly three months. Even with plenty of shade its new leaves suffered some heat stress so I was quite surprised to see a dozen or more little fruit developing! Great experience from Stark Brothers and would definitely recommend.
Rated 5 out of 5
Sep 23, 2024
Pretty good. Didn't die yet. Was shipped methodically and neat. Soil was intact and no branches were snapped
Rated 5 out of 5
Aug 19, 2024
Doing great, better than a locally purchased kumquat .
Rated 5 out of 5
Jun 25, 2024
11 out of 10 Stars. Best Value I've ever gotten. $110 tree discounted down to $45 each AND ITS BEARING FRUIT.
Not only was I able to get 2x Calamondin Orange Tree Supreme EZ Start Potted for $45 each despite its normal price being $110+. Despite the Stark Bro representative's response to question asking about if the tree comes with flowers/fruit is that they do not ship with fruit and it may take a year or two for it to start fruiting; BOTH of my tree came with fruit on the tree and not only fruit THE FRUIT IS NEAR HARVESTING SIZE. I got 2 trees that bear fruit from the day that I got it and I got them at a STEEP discount. BEYOND RECOMMEND this. Even local Viet/Filipino gardeners would charge 150+ for these trees that I got for 45 bucks.
Rated 5 out of 5
Aug 7, 2023
Amazing replacement policy
My calamansi tree arrived in good condition even started to put in new growth, but a few months later started to shrivel and die. I contacted Stark Bros and they imidiately sent me a beautiful replacement. I potted and fed it and the same thing happened though. Maybe something is eating the roots? I have purchased 2 other citrus trees from them and they are doing great. The tree was sent in good health and they have an amazing replacement policy. I'm just so sad the tree did not survive for a 2nd time.