Changsha

Changsha is one of the hardiest of the mandarins.  May have C. ichangensis in background.  Survives short freezes of  13°F, -11°C F with no loss of leaves, reports it survives 6°F, -14°C [4] p. 28 and also dying at that same temperature [5] .  Generally considered hardy to 10°F, -12°C [4] p. 14.  It is very seedy and the flavor is bland, low acid.  Honey Changsha is a selection with better flavor, at least some seedlings are zygotic. It has about 25 seeds per fruit.

Honey Changsha

Seedless Changsha News 

In 2003 Dr. Wayne Hanna at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus started working on a seedless Changsha.[1]  He exposed seed to gamma radiation to induce sterility.  Dr. Hanna[2] and his fruit[3].  Dr. Hanna at the 2013 Citrus Expo in Alabama said it was still a couple of years away from introduction.

A seedless Changsha, cold hardy seedless lemon and seedless grapefruit is now available  
but only for sale in Georgia.

• ‘Sweet Frost’ is an irradiated Changsha mandarin with two to three seeds per fruit. It has a Brix range of 11-12, it is very easy peel, well-colored, and matures (in GA) in November or December.
• ‘Grand Frost’ is an irradiated Ichang lemon. This is a large lemon (25 centimeters to 28 cm in circumference) with about 8 Brix and high juice content. It has nice, bright-yellow color and a maturity range of November through January.
• ‘Pink Frost’ is a red grapefruit, with characteristics not dissimilar to ‘Ruby Red,’ but with somewhat deeper color. It averages 30 cm to 35 cm in circumference, has Brix 8-11, and matures (in GA) November through March. It averages three seeds per fruit. This variety was identified in Georgia. It was a high seed fruit, with approximately 60 seeds before being irradiated.[4]