Sanford Curafora

(Poncirus x Orange) x mandarin?

1/4 poncirus, 1/4 orange, 1/2 mandarin
or 
1/4 poncirus 1/2 orange, 1/4 mandarin

(Citrus trifoliata x C. sinensis 'Ruby') 'Sanford' x C. reticulata?   


Hardy to 17°F, -8°C, or 10°F, -12°C 

Sanford Curafora  is a seedling of an open pollinated Sanford Citrange.  It was selected by Dr. Edwin Frey of Switzerland. The pollen parent is unknown, it is obviously a kind of mandarin, and Bernhard Voss has suggested it is a Clementine.  The whole habit of the plant is mandarin like. The leaves are thin, dark green and attractive, more long than broad and look like mandarin leaves, except for some bi- and trifoliate leaves that sometimes occur. Young growth is frost tolerant. 

Tree sets flowers abundantly, fruits should be thinned,  otherwise it will get only male flowers the next year. The flowers are very fragrant and look more like citrus flowers than Poncirus. The stamens stand free as in Poncirus. They have a lot of pollen and also plenty of nectar.  Perhaps self incompatible, but will set seed with other pollen, indicating perhaps male parent was Clementine. Fruit is  juicy, sweet and with good Clementine aroma. Peel-ability varies. No Poncirus taste. Fruit are late ripening, as late as March, but may be picked as early as December in warmer climates. Similar information plus photographs [1] 

Clementine is either a tangor (orange x mandarin) or  mandarin [2]
When grafted in August, or later, first growths are flowers.  Plants are slow growers.

More comments from May 14, 2014 [3]