Hardy Citrus Atlas

Juice

Orange citrus fruit hanging among narrow leaves

Sanford Curafora

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Sanford Curafora (Citroncirus ‘Sanford Curafora’) is a contemporary hybrid selected in Switzerland by Dr. Edwin Frey, from the open pollination of Sanford Citrange (Poncirus trifoliata x Sanford orange), probably by a mandarin or clementine. This selection effort in the European alpine climate represents an original path in the search for hardy citrus with edible fruit. Its hardiness reaches 10°F (−12°C) once the tree is established, making it suitable for in-ground growing up to USDA zone 8a. The moderately vigorous tree reaches 7 to 10 ft (2 to 3 m) with fine, dark green, glossy evergreen foliage, reminiscent of a mandarin’s, with a few occasional trifoliate leaves inherited from Poncirus. Its mandarin-sized fruits, weighing 2.5 to 3.5 oz (70 to 100 g), with light orange, easy-to-peel skin, offer juicy, sweet flesh with a slight residual bitterness. Excellent as fresh fruit and jam. Grafted onto Poncirus trifoliata, against a south-facing wall.

A young garden citrus tree with visibly trifoliate leaves

Rusk Citrange

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Rusk citrange (Citroncirus ‘Rusk’) is one of the oldest Poncirus hybrids in the world, created in 1897 by Walter T. Swingle at the USDA to combine the extreme hardiness of Poncirus trifoliata with the flavor quality of the Ruby orange. Named in honor of J. M. Rusk, the first U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, it was officially described in 1905. Its exceptional hardiness reaches 1°F (−17°C), making it suitable for in-ground growing up to USDA zone 7a. The vigorous tree reaches 7 to 10 ft (2 to 3 m) with evergreen to semi-deciduous trifoliate foliage. Its small, flattened, dark orange fruits with reddish highlights contain few seeds and have very juicy flesh with a tart, slightly bitter taste, more edible than most citranges. Excellent as juice, jam, and liqueur. Grafted onto Poncirus, perfect for gardens in zones 7 and 7b.

A garden citrus tree bearing yellow fruit beside a stone wall

Pursha Lime

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Pursha lime (Citrus limetta ‘Pursha’), also called Rome sweet lime, is an old Italian variety born from a natural cross between the Indian Rangpur lime and the Japanese Shekwasha mandarin. Native to the area around Rome, where it has been grown for several centuries, it was recently rediscovered by specialized French nurseries. Its hardiness reaches 16°F (−9°C) in a sheltered position, which makes it viable up to USDA zone 8b. The tree forms a compact but vigorous specimen reaching 7 to 10 ft (2 to 3 m) with a rounded habit, soft green evergreen foliage, and highly fragrant white flowers, sometimes reblooming. Its round yellow fruits, weighing 2.1 to 3.5 oz (60 to 100 g), have very juicy green-yellow flesh with a paradoxical taste: very mild and sweet despite the look of a lime. Excellent as juice, in marinades, and in pastry. Grafted onto Poncirus trifoliata, ideally against a south-facing wall.

A citrus tree bearing orange fruit on a lawn

Owari SRA 145 Corsica Satsuma Mandarin

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Owari SRA 145 Corsica satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu ‘Owari SRA 145’) is a French clonal selection from the INRAE Corsica San Giuliano program, which catalogs and improves satsuma varieties adapted to the French climate. Its hardiness reaches 9°F (−13°C) on the tree, among the hardiest mandarins, making it suitable for in-ground growing in USDA zones 7b and 8a. The tree reaches 7 to 10 ft (2 to 3 m) with a spreading, weeping habit, evergreen foliage, and fragrant white flowers. Its bright orange, medium-sized fruits, weighing 3.5 to 5.3 oz (100 to 150 g), seedless, with thin, easy-to-peel skin, ripen in November-December with juicy, sweet, low-acid flesh. A French reference for satsuma production in temperate climates. Excellent fresh, as juice, and as sorbet. Graft onto Poncirus trifoliata, plant against a south-facing wall, in well-drained soil.

A young leafy citrus plant in a dark nursery pot

Citrandarin US-852

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The Citrandarin US-852 (Citrus reticulata ‘Changsha’ x Poncirus trifoliata) is a modern hybrid created by the American USDA program, crossing the ultra-hardy Changsha mandarin with Poncirus trifoliata to combine the two best hardiness lines. Its hardiness reaches 9°F (−13°C) on the tree, making it suitable for planting in the ground as far as USDA zone 7b. The tree grows 10 to 13 ft (3 to 4 m) tall with an upright, semi-thorny habit, semi-evergreen foliage and white spring flowers. Its bright orange, small to medium-sized fruits (2.8 to 4.2 oz, or 80 to 120 g), with easy-to-peel skin, ripen in winter and offer a fragrant sour-sweet juice close to a traditional mandarin, with a slight residual bitterness from the Poncirus. Excellent in blended juice, marmalade, or fresh for lovers of bold flavors. Graft onto Poncirus trifoliata to stabilize vigor, south-facing wall.

Three orange citrus fruit with attached leaves on a pale background

Changsha Mandarin

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The Changsha Mandarin (Citrus reticulata ‘Changsha’) is one of the hardiest mandarins in the world, withstanding down to 10°F (−12°C) on the tree. Native to the Hunan region of central China, where it has grown for more than a thousand years, it served as the genetic base of many modern hardy hybrids developed in the twentieth century. The vigorous tree grows 10 to 13 ft (3 to 4 m) tall with an upright habit and evergreen foliage. Its bright orange, small fruits (2.1 to 2.8 oz, or 60 to 80 g), with easy-to-peel skin, ripen in November and December and offer juicy flesh with a sweet taste punctuated by delicate floral notes. Many seeds in the classic form, hardier than aromatic. Excellent in fresh juice and in cooking. Grafted onto Poncirus trifoliata, it is rated USDA zone 8a by Biggio and Londeix; growing it in 7b remains a borderline attempt in a very sheltered situation, notably described by Woodlanders in the United States. A sentimental choice for the gardener who wants to link Chinese tradition and a French-speaking garden.

A green citrus fruit on a branch with narrow leaves

Eremorange 2

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The Eremorange 2 (Citrus glauca × Eremorange) is an Australian double hybrid combining the desert lime (Eremocitrus glauca) with an earlier Eremorange, to push further the combined resistance to cold and drought. Its hardiness reaches 10°F (−12°C) on the tree, making it suitable for planting in the ground in USDA zone 8a. The tree grows 7 to 10 ft (2 to 3 m) tall with a spreading habit, almost exotic silvery foliage recalling an olive tree, a trait inherited from the desert parent, and discreet white flowers. Its small, light orange fruits, with thin skin, ripen in fall and winter with juicy flesh and an original tart taste blending orange and lemony-brackish notes from the Australian parent. Very ornamental, particularly suited to dry Mediterranean and continental gardens. Exceptional tolerance of summer drought. Graft onto Poncirus trifoliata, perfectly drained soil, full sun exposure.

Two orange citrus fruit among glossy leaves

Australian Bitter Orange

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The Australian Bitter Orange (Citrus aurantium ‘Australian’) is a complex hybrid combining the classic bitter orange with Citrus taiwanica, pummelo and mandarin parents, selected to combine the hardiness of the bitter orange with the aromatic richness of Eastern citrus. Its hardiness reaches 10°F (−12°C) on the tree, making it suitable for planting in the ground in USDA zone 8a. The vigorous tree grows 10 to 13 ft (3 to 4 m) tall with a rounded, thorny habit, aromatic evergreen foliage and very fragrant white flowers in spring. Its bitter orange, medium-sized fruits, with thick, rough skin, ripen in winter and concentrate a frank bitterness tempered by complex floral notes. Excellent in marmalade, jam, candied peel and liqueur (Curaçao and Grand Marnier types). Graft onto Poncirus trifoliata for hardiness, plant against a south-facing wall, in well-drained soil. Harvest in January to March.

Whole and peeled orange citrus fruit on a kitchen plate

Planellina Satsuma

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The Planellina Satsuma (Citrus unshiu ‘Planellina Wase’) is an early satsuma selection originating in Spain, chosen for its flavor quality and early harvest. Its hardiness reaches 10°F (−12°C) on the tree, among the hardiest satsumas, making it suitable for planting in the ground in USDA zone 8a. The tree grows 7 to 10 ft (2 to 3 m) tall with the spreading, weeping habit characteristic of satsumas, evergreen foliage and fragrant white flowers in spring. Its bright orange, medium-sized fruits (3.5 to 5.3 oz, or 100 to 150 g), seedless, with thin, very easy-to-peel skin, are harvested from September for juice, then in October as eating fruit, according to Quissac, with particularly juicy, sweet, low-acid flesh. Excellent fresh, as juice and in sorbet. Ideal for anyone who wants an early-harvest mandarin before the first severe frosts. Graft onto Poncirus trifoliata, plant against a south-southwest-facing wall.

A ridged green citrus fruit against a dark background

Ichang Papeda x IVIA

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The Ichang Papeda x IVIA (Citrus ichangensis × papeda ‘IVIA’) is a hybrid between the Chinese Ichang papeda and an Asian papeda, selected by the IVIA institute in Valencia, Spain, to combine maximum hardiness with disease resistance. Its hardiness reaches 5°F (−15°C) on the tree, among the hardiest edible citrus in the world, making it suitable for planting in the ground in USDA zone 7b. The vigorous tree grows 10 to 13 ft (3 to 4 m) tall with an upright, thorny habit, aromatic evergreen foliage characteristic of papedas (large winged petiole) and fragrant white flowers. Its yellow, round, bumpy, medium-sized fruits, with thick skin, ripen in winter, with January to February as the harvest benchmark used in this entry, and concentrate a sour juice with unique aromas blending lemon, mandarin and resinous notes. Used mostly for zest and in niche cooking. Graft onto Poncirus trifoliata.

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