Kishu Mandarin Tree

Citrus kinokuni mukakukishu

$179⁹⁹

In Stock
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Plant Size

#5 Container Semi Dwarf

Product variants

Plant Sentry™

Delivery and Shipping

Understanding Plant Options

Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:

Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements

Container Plant Sizes

Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.

Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2" x 2" x 3"	0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts	0.20 - 0.23 dry liters
4" Container	0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts	0.35 - 0.96 dry liters
4.5" Container	0.65 dry quarts	0.72 dry liters
6" Container	1.4 dry quarts	1.59 dry liters
1 Quart	1 dry quart	1.1 dry liters
5.5" Container	1.89 dry quarts	2.08 dry liters

Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2 Quart	2 dry quarts	2.2 dry liters
#1 Container	2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts	2.49 - 4.11 dry liters
5" x 5" x 12"	3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts	3.85 - 4.74 dry liters

Mature Plants (2-4 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#2 Container	1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons	5.24 - 7.75 dry liters
#3 Container	2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons	8.14 - 12.16 dry liters

Large Plants (3-5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#5 Container	2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons	12.86 - 20.35 dry liters
#6 Container	5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons	23.12 - 26.42 dry liters
#7 Container	5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons	26.34 - 28.76 dry liters

Bare Root Plants

Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.

Common Sizes:

Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet

Important Notes

Container Volume Specifications

Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents

Growing Conditions

Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment

Seasonal Availability

Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
Container plants are available throughout the growing season
Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes

Questions?

For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.

Plant Highlights

Kishu Mandarin Tree highlights at a glance!

Specifications

Brand

Nature Hills' Choice
Botanical Name

Citrus kinokuni mukakukishu
Growing Zones

Outdoors 9-10; Patio 4-10
Mature Height

8 - 10 feet
Mature Spread

8 - 10 feet
Sun Exposure

Full Sun
Moisture

Moderate
Soil

Well Drained
Growth Rate

Medium
Flower Color

White
Pollinator Friendly

Yes
Pollinator Required

No
Fragrant

Yes
Pruning Time

Late Winter
Bloom Period

Late Spring
Harvest Time

Late Season

Growing Zones outdoors 9-10; patio 4-10

Find Your Growing Zone!

The most delicious Mandarin you'll ever taste! Adorable and irresistible, the Kishu Seedless Mandarin (Citrus kinokuni mukakukishu) is one of the most delicious of all the Mandarins. The fruit is smaller than a golf ball but super easy to peel, tender and juicy on the tongue, and fragrant and sweet to the nose.

All of these qualities make for a fantastic homegrown fruit, but a difficult one to grow commercially. Until recently it was a challenge to find - even at farmer's markets - but the fruits are becoming more readily available, thanks to small groves of Citrus tree growers.

From the glossy bright green foliage that remains year-round, to the drifts of fragrant white blossoms, you’ll always have something to enjoy on your Kishu! However, it will turn the most heads once it's dripping in darling bright orange orbs just begging to be savored!

Planting and Application:

Thankfully you don't have to wait until this delicious fruit comes to your local market - you can grow your own today! If you live in a Citrus-friendly area, or even if you have a large pot and a sunny window, you can grow this delightful fruit for yourself.

Indoors or out, porch, patio or balcony, anyone in cooler climates can also enjoy these smaller, more compact ornamental trees! In warm climates, the Kishu Mandarin Tree thrives as a front or back yard specimen tree and small edible ornamental!

Exceptional Flavor
Early Ripening
Small, Easily Peeled Fruit
Ornamental Flowering Broadleaf Evergreen
Container Tree - Grow Indoors or Out!
Easy to Grow & Healthy Vitamin C-Packed Treat

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Citrus trees do their best fruiting and flowering in the full sun, so provide at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day for your tree or risk your harvest's size. Citrus also prefer to dry out a bit between waterings, so plant in enriched, slightly acidic, organic soil that's well-drained.

Protecting Container Citrus From Cold

Although it's famous for growing in warmer regions, it can also thrive in colder areas as long as the tree is brought indoors prior to the first frost of winter.

If you're growing these tropical trees in the ground in the lowest of their favored growing zones, they need to be planted in a sheltered spot to avoid the worst of the chill. If a spot like that is unavailable, then you are better off planting in a large, deep container.

In borderline growing zones, begin slowly acclimating your tree indoors or into a protected location, eventually moving your tree inside in bright indirect sun for the winter if the temperatures in your area ever dip below that 40°F range. In spring, reverse this process and begin acclimating your tree to again be back out in the full sun all summer. This reduces stress and leaf drop.

Full sun and enriched sites
Use a regular fertilizer schedule
Prune to any manageable size &
Head over to our Garden Blog for Caring for Your Citrus Trees
Find more great info about the Kishu Mandarin Tree in our Video Blog too!

Any gardener will tell you that the fruit you grow yourself is better than the fruit you buy at the store. They also tell you that fruit that you grow that isn't available in the market tastes even better! You'll be an instant hit with your neighbors and at your local farmer's market, but only if you order your Kishu Seedless Mandarin Tree today at NatureHills.com!

Kishu Mandarin Loved for Two Thousand Years

The Kishu Mandarin is a small Citrus fruit with an enormous history. Packed with flavor and convenience, the fruit has lasted as a favorite of both the Chinese and the Japanese for almost two thousand years.

Known by a variety of different names, the Kishu first is described during the Tang dynasty around (618 to 907 AD). Then called the Ruju, the fruit is a seeded selection with outstanding flavor; by the era of the Song dynasty (960 to 1279) it is hailed as one of the finest of Mandarins. DNA has shown the modern-day Kishu and the Ruju, or Nanfengmiju as it is referred to today, to be very similar. It is currently one of the most widely grown Mandarins in China.

Arriving in Japan around 700 years ago, the Cherry Orange as it was called, began to be cultivated and was soon referred to as the Japanese Orange. By the 16th century, the Kishu domain, a location in the southern part of Japan, was the prime region for the Japanese Orange and most likely the origin of the varieties name. Kishu is said to be one of the most popular citrus varieties in Japan until the 1880's, with the introduction of the Satsuma Mandarin. At this time, at least 4 varieties of Kishus are known, with 4 being seeded and 1 being seedless.

It wasn't until the early 1900s that seeds began to arrive in the United States. The Mukaku Kishu seeds, a highly prized, low-seeded, Japanese selection, were brought to California in 1915. Once fruited, it is determined that the fruit is too small and not suited for commercial cultivation. There are recommendations made that the variety is suited for home gardens as early as 1902, but the Kishu Mandarin would not be looked at again until the 1990s.

In the early 1980s, bud wood for the Seedless Kishu arrived at UC Riverside's Citrus Variety Collection. Once fruited the selection fast becomes a favorite of the UC Riverside Staff. The fine flavor, the ease of peeling and the small snack-size fruit were all exciting features to the UC Staff. The fact that it was earlier than the most popular Satsuma Mandarin only added to its potential.

Finally, in 1987, a commercial grower in Ojai, California planted the first seedless Kishu orchard. The fruit was an immediate hit at farmer's markets. The demand grows quickly, attracting 5 or more growers to plant as well. In the late 1990s, the Four Winds Growers of Fremont, California began offering the low-seeded Kishu to the home garden market. The variety is slow to catch on at first, but with the help of commercial exposure, demand begins to grow.

Today, the low Seeded and Seedless varieties are both offered, with some preferring the seeded claiming a more intense flavor. In either case, the Kishu Mandarin is now a much-appreciated, early-season fruit, and will continue to grow in popularity based on the attributes that have made it popular for the last two thousand years.

Growth

This plant is flourishing

Hi Robert,

Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful update! We’re thrilled to hear that your plant is flourishing—it’s always rewarding to see nature thrive with a little care and patience. If you ever have questions about further care or want tips to keep your greenery thriving, feel free to reach out. We’re always happy to help your garden grow even more beautiful.

Bloom on,
The Nature Hills Plant Knowledge Team