Lakeland Limequat

The Lakeland limequat is a citrus lover's answer to cold: a compact, productive hybrid that pairs the hardiness of the kumquat with the bright, tropical punch of Key lime. One of three limequats bred by W. T. Swingle of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Florida in 1909 and named for the town of Lakeland, this cross (Citrus x floridana) joins the West Indian, or Key, lime with the round Marumi kumquat (Fortunella japonica). The result carries intense citrus flavor on a plant that thrives well beyond the usual citrus belt.

Flavor is the whole point. As Craig Hepworth of Florida Fruit Geek describes them, "'Lakeland' limequats are extremely juicy, with an aroma and taste almost identical to pure Key lime, except not quite as powerful, about 70% as intense." The small, oval fruit ripens golden-yellow, with edible, mildly sweet skin and tart, aromatic juice, the whole fruit good fresh, juiced, or turned into a bright, citrusy marmalade.

The Lakeland limequat tree is exceptionally productive, often fruiting over a long season from fall into early spring, and one Florida grower is said to harvest more than a gallon of fruit a week from a single tree for months on end. Compact and bushy, the tree takes happily to a large container, which puts the fruit within reach of the smallest patio and the coldest gardens.

In the garden, grow the Lakeland limequat in full sun and well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soil, in the ground through USDA zones 8 to 11 or in a pot that can be sheltered when hard frost threatens. Hardy to around twenty degrees Fahrenheit, this little citrus is among the toughest for Southern and marginal gardens, and the fragrant spring flowers perfume the whole area before the long harvest begins. Keep a plant near the kitchen for a steady supply of Key-lime flavor. Photo courtesy of Florida Fruit Geek.