Citrus variety

Ponkan

Also known as Ponkan Mandarin, Chinese Honey Orange

The short answer

Ponkan is a documented citrus variety. The sourced figures are below — where nothing is published we say so, and any estimate is clearly labeled as ours.

Growing facts

Ponkan growing facts
Chill requirement	None — citrus trees don’t need winter chill
Hardiness	Not published for this variety
Pollination	Not documented for this variety
Harvest window	November–January^[1]
Years to bearing	Not published

Ponkan citrusSpecies illustration — no historical watercolor exists for this cultivar

Notes

Early midseason mandarin maturing November to January; seeds few, small, and polyembryonic.^[1]
Reported to be less cold-resistant than most mandarins; one of the most tropical mandarins.^[1]

A year with your Ponkan

When the work happens for a citrus in USDA zone 6, anchored to typical frost dates.

Months for pruning, thinning, spray-timing windows, and harvest for Citrus in zone 6
Task	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Prune	—			—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Spray timing	—	—	—				—	—	—	—	—	—
Harvest	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Care	—								—	—	—	—

See the full month-by-month citrus calendar for zone 6 →

Growing a Ponkan? Get its care calendar for your exact ZIP code, with email reminders.

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Sources

[1] University of California, Riverside (Givaudan Citrus Variety Collection). Ponkan mandarin — Citrus Variety Collection (CRC 3849) — accessed July 2026