Tropicals, Woody > Citrus > Citrus reticulata > Citrus reticulata 'Sunburst'

Family

Rutaceae

Genus

Citrus

Species

reticulata

Cultivar

'Sunburst'

Category

Tropicals, Woody

Type

Tree (evergreen)

USDA Hardiness Zone

7a - 11

Canadian Hardiness Zone

8b

RHS Hardiness Zone

H6 - H1c

Temperature (°C)

above 4.5

Temperature (°F)

0 - above 40

Height

3 - 6 m

Spread

3.0 - 5 m

Photographs

Description and Growing Information

Flowering Period

General Description

It is a cross between the two citrus hybrids Robinson and Osceola. This cross was made in 1961 and was released for commercial use in 1979 by C. J. Hearn of the United States Department of Agriculture in Orlando.

Landscape

This cultivar is self-incompatible and will produce poorly when planted in solid blocks. To achieve maximum fruit set an adequate number and arrangement of pollenizer trees is required.

Cultivation

Prefers full sun and grows best in rich, acidic soils but does not do well in overly wet soils.

Shape

Symmetrical, open and rounded.

Growth

Medium

Pests

Xylella a bacterial disease is a serious threat to many horticultures crops due to its virulence and wide range of species it can infect. It can infect more than 560 species with wide ranging symptoms including leaf scorch, yellowing and scorching, wilt, branch and twig dieback and plant death. These symptoms can be identical to other symptoms such as drought and weather stress. Infected plants show symptoms within a few years after planting.

Leaf Description

Sunburst trees have dark-green foliage, moderately vigorous, thornless, up-right, and spreading shape. They are tolerant of snow scale, moderately cold hardy and have resistance to scab.

Flower Description

Flower buds are light pink, blooms are white.

Fruit Description

Fruit is juicy and sweet, medium in size, loose skinned and easy to peel. They are 5-10 cm in diameter and have easily divided sections. Fruit is in season from late autumn through the winter months. Fruit segments number from 11 - 14 and have a somewhat hollow central axis.

Notable Specimens

Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales, Florida, United States of America.

Propagation

Cuttings or grafting. Trees have been produced on many of the standard rootstocks of Carrizo citrange, sour orange, Swingle citrumelo and Cleopatra mandarin and have all produced acceptable fruit quality and yield.

Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer)

Edible fruit.

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