Clementine × Yuzu 333

(Citrus clementina x junos)

Documented by Léo — grown in the ground, USDA zone 8b

Clementine × Yuzu 333 (Citrus clementina × junos) is a modern hybrid of the Mediterranean clementine and the Japanese yuzu, a numbered selection (333) from a breeding program aimed at combining clementine sweetness with yuzu hardiness. Its tree hardiness reaches 10°F (−12°C), higher than that of the classic clementine, and Biggio and Londeix rank it among the citrus to plant in USDA zone 8b. The tree reaches 6 to 13 ft (2 to 4 m) with a rounded habit, evergreen foliage, and fragrant white flowers. Its orange-yellow fruit, medium-sized and easy to peel, ripens in winter and offers juicy flesh with a flavor balanced between clementine sweetness and the fragrant acidity of yuzu, with a few original floral notes. A few seeds. Graft onto Poncirus trifoliata, plant against a south-facing wall, in well-drained soil.

Identity

OriginEurope

Genetic originClementine × Yuzu

USDA zone8b

Cold hardiness10°F (−12°C)

Fruit cold hardiness25°F (−4°C)

GrowthVigorous

Height10 ft (3 m)

HarvestNovember, December

SeedsModerate

UsesPreserves, Savory cooking

FlavorsSweet, Tart, Highly aromatic, Exotic

History & Description

Origin

This rare hybrid (often noted Clem-Yuz 3-3) was developed by Dr. Brown in Texas in the 1960s. It crosses the sweetness of the clementine (Citrus clementina) with the aromatic power of the yuzu (Citrus junos).

Tree description

The tree is vigorous, dense, and very productive. It inherits good cold resistance, about 10°F (−12°C), from its yuzu parent.

Fruit quality

The fruit looks like a small clementine with thin skin. It is very juicy and contains few or no seeds.

Flavor and ornamental interest

It is a dual-purpose citrus: harvested green, it replaces the lime; harvested orange (at full ripeness), it becomes a sweet mandarin with complex background notes recalling yuzu.