Silverhill Satsuma mandarin

Citrus unshiu Marcovitch

CRC 4072
PI 654860
VI 603

Source

Received as budwood from A. Harty, New Zealand.

Parentage/origins

Reported to be a nucellar seedling selection of Owari from a cross made by W.T. Swingle in 1908.

Rootstocks of accession

Carrizo citrange, C-35 citrange

Season of ripeness at Riverside

October to December

Notes and observations

EMN: It appears to be almost identical with 'Frost Owari' (CRC 3178).

"The Silverhill: A promising and apparently hardy strain of Satsuma orange", by Walter T. Swingle, January 3, 1931: "In 1924, the temperature at Silverhill, Alabama, fell to 13 degrees on January 6, and to 14 degrees on January 7. The young trees of No. 7272 were defoliated but otherwise uninjured and by May of that year were fully leafed out and in good condition. Two freezes occurred in 1928, the lowest temperatures being 15 degrees on January 2 and 3, but little if any injury was sustained by these false hybrid trees beyond partial defoliation. Finally, in December, 1929, and January, 1930, all the trees (by this time of larger size and in full bearing) went through a disastrous series of freezes, with temperatures falling to 20 degrees on December 3, to 21 degrees on December 4, to 18 degrees on December 20, to 21 degrees on December 21, and to 19 degrees on December 24, followed after January 1, by warm weather for about two weeks. Then, on January 19, the temperature dropped to 16 degrees. The last severe freeze, following warm growing weather, caused great injury to ordinary Satsuma trees in this part of Alabama, but the false hybrid No. 7272 showed no injury beyond defoliation except in the case of a few trees that had been scale-infested and which were in a weakened condition when the freeze hit them.

Ordinary Owari Satsuma trees growing alongside in the field and planted at the same time were severely injured by all of the freezes mentioned, so there can be no doubt that this false-hybrid is distinctly hardier than the ordinary Satusma varieties.

Since the hardiness of this false hybrid (CPB No. 7272) was first brought clearly to light at Silverhill, Alabama, it is proposed to name it the Silverhill Satsuma.

The Silverhill Satsuma produces fruit of the same size and appearance as that of the Owari variety. The fruit ripens possibly a few days earlier, but on the other hand, keeps rather better than the Owari. However, it can be picked, sized, packed and marketed along with the main crop of the Owari without difficulity. The Silverhill tree shows an upright habit of growth when young, in contrast with the more drooping habit of the Owari. It makes a large tree, capable of carrying a large crop, when in full bearing.

The Silverhill Satsuma tree grows faster than the Owari Satsuma, is rather more subject to the attacks of the scab fungus, Sphaceloma fawcetti, Jenkins, and is also somewhat later in coming into full bearing than Owari. Instead of beginning to fruit at four years of age, as the Owari does, the Silverhill trees were about six years old before they produced a crop. The susceptibility to scab resulting from rank vegetative growth, probably contributes to this delayed fruiting, and effective control of scab, secured by one of two additional sprayings with Bordeaux minture, may perhaps result in earlier fruit production.

Irrespective of the drawbacks noted, it is believed that on account of its hardiness, the Silverhill Satsuma is promising enough to warrant its being tested on a small scale by the Satsuma growers of the Gulf Coast region."

Description from The Citrus Industry Vol. 1 (1967)

"Fruit medium in size, slightly more oblate than most; rind relatively thin and smooth; seedless. Juice abundant; sugars high and acid low (hence very sweet); quality excellent; stores well. Season of maturity early (November).

Tree very vigorous (for satsuma), more upright than most others; productive; markedly cold-resistant.

Silverhill is a nucellar seedling selection of Owari from a cross made by W. T. Swingle of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Florida about 1908. The variety was named and introduced about 1931. In collections in California, it is indistinguishable from the Frost Owari derived at the Citrus Research Center, Riverside, California, and almost certainly they are identical. They constitute what are considered to be the best clones currently available in the United States.

Silverhill has been tested in Japan, where the above characterization was taken to permit direct comparison with other varieties. It is recommended for planting in Japan as a promising, early shipping variety of Unshû.

Another nucellar selection, which so closely resembles Silverhill that it is virtually indistinguishable, is Tanikawa Unshû, which originated as a nucellar seedling in the breeding program of the Horticultural Research Station at Okitsu about 1920 and was named for its originator, T. Tanikawa. The only differences reported are a somewhat lower average sugar content in the fruit and slightly higher average yield to date. Like Silverhill, it is recommended as an early shipping variety."

Availability

Commercially available in California through the Citrus Clonal Protection Program. Click here to order budwood.

USDA Germplasm Resources Information Network page for Silverhill Satsuma mandarin

CVC Fruit Quality Data for Silverhill Satsuma mandarin

(New format sorted by Julian date from Jan 1)

CULTIVAR	LOCATION	DATE	JULIAN DATE	Mean SSC	Citric acid (%)	SSC/TA	# FRUIT	LENGTH	AVG. LENGTH	WIDTH	AVG. WIDTH	L/W	WEIGHT	AVG. WT.	COLOR	TEXTURE	RIND	SEEDS	AVG. SEEDS	INTERIOR	JUICE WT.	% JUICE
Silverhill	Lindcove	9/28/2009	271	8.35	1.10	7.57	10	61.20	6.12	66.70	6.67	0.92	1379.40	137.94	3.20	3.50	48.00	2.00	0.20	5 MED OR, 5 LT OR	592.50	42.95
Silverhill	Lindcove	9/28/2009	271	9.65	1.17	8.30	10	51.30	5.13	58.90	5.89	0.87	970.80	97.08	3.80	3.00	33.00	1.00	0.10	10 LT OR	427.50	44.04
Silverhill	Lindcove	9/28/2009	271	7.55	1.08	6.98	10	54.30	5.43	59.50	5.95	0.91	1005.90	100.59	3.70	4.00	37.00	4.00	0.40	10 LT OR	409.70	40.73
Silverhill	Lindcove	9/29/2008	273	8.00	1.68	4.73	10	61.80	6.18	67.00	6.70	0.92	1285.30	128.53	3.40	3.00	36.00	1.00	0.10	PALE YEL. OR.	630.70	49.07
Silverhill	Lindcove	9/29/2008	273	8.60	1.34	6.46	10	53.80	5.38	59.10	5.91	0.91	968.80	96.88	3.70	1.50	37.00	3.00	0.30	PALE ORANGE	437.30	45.14
Silverhill	Lindcove	10/2/2006	275	8.80	1.50	5.87	10	58.70	5.87	67.90	6.79	0.86	1349.00	134.90	3.00	5.00	49.00	0.00	0.00	ORANGE	517.20	38.34
Silverhill	Lindcove	10/2/2006	275	9.80	1.36	7.19	10	56.00	5.60	67.20	6.72	0.83	1283.00	128.30	3.00	4.50	44.50	2.00	0.20	ORANGE	527.40	41.11
Silverhill	Lindcove	10/6/2005	279	4.10	0.76	5.45	10	51.80	5.18	61.20	6.12	0.85	1030.00	103.00	3.50	3.00	31.00	1.00	0.10	ORANGE	497.20	48.27
Silverhill	Lindcove	10/6/2005	279	8.00	1.42	5.65	10	51.30	5.13	59.90	5.99	0.86	955.70	95.57	3.00	3.00	32.00	15.00	1.50	ORANGE	446.70	46.74
Silverhill	Lindcove	10/10/2007	283	8.20	1.31	6.23	10	60.30	6.03	63.00	6.30	0.96	1294.70	129.47	4.00	3.50	44.00	9.00	0.90	BRIGHT ORANGE	513.80	39.68
Silverhill	Lindcove	10/10/2007	283	9.60	1.09	8.79	10	57.30	5.73	60.50	6.05	0.95	1132.00	113.20	4.00	2.00	45.00	21.00	2.10	BRIGHT ORANGE	480.50	42.45
Silverhill	Lindcove	10/17/2006	290	10.30	0.99	10.27	10	55.80	5.58	67.30	6.73	0.83	1355.90	135.59	3.00	4.50	56.00	1.00	0.10	BRIGHT ORANGE	575.50	42.44
Silverhill	Lindcove	10/17/2006	290	7.00	0.76	9.02	10	53.30	5.33	65.00	6.50	0.82	1197.20	119.72	3.00	4.50	39.00	1.00	0.10	BRIGHT ORANGE	601.70	50.26
Silverhill	Lindcove	10/19/2009	292	7.95	1.03	7.74	10	62.50	6.25	69.00	6.90	0.91	1453.60	145.36	4.50	6.00	45.00	0.00	0.00	10 MED OR	626.10	43.07
Silverhill	Lindcove	10/19/2009	292	7.95	0.83	9.68	10	57.80	5.78	62.70	6.27	0.92	1132.10	113.21	4.00	4.00	41.00	2.00	0.20	10 MED OR	506.80	44.77
Silverhill	Lindcove	10/19/2009	292	9.65	1.10	8.75	10	56.90	5.69	63.40	6.34	0.90	1155.40	115.54	4.50	3.50	45.00	34.00	3.40	10 MED OR	517.00	44.75
Silverhill	Lindcove	10/20/2005	293	7.50	1.02	7.40	10	55.70	5.57	65.00	6.50	0.86	1250.70	125.07	4.00	5.00	36.00	9.00	0.90	MED. ORANGE	597.80	47.80
Silverhill	Lindcove	10/20/2005	293	8.30	1.12	7.44	10	53.40	5.34	62.40	6.24	0.86	1096.20	109.62	4.00	5.00	35.00	7.00	0.70	MED. ORANGE	526.50	48.03
Silverhill	Lindcove	10/20/2008	294	7.00	0.67	10.42	10	65.40	6.54	75.30	7.53	0.87	1825.00	182.50	3.50	4.00	41.00	16.00	1.60	BRIGHT ORANGE	711.10	38.96
Silverhill	Lindcove	10/20/2008	294	8.90	0.97	8.59	10	61.40	6.14	66.40	6.64	0.92	1364.50	136.45	3.90	3.00	36.00	6.00	0.60	BRIGHT ORANGE	575.10	42.15
Silverhill	Lindcove	10/29/2007	302	8.10	0.96	8.47	10	59.30	5.93	68.40	6.84	0.87	1310.70	131.07	5.00	4.00	38.00	6.00	0.60	BRIGHT ORANGE	550.90	42.03
Silverhill	Lindcove	10/29/2007	302	10.10	0.98	10.21	10	53.70	5.37	60.50	6.05	0.89	958.20	95.82	5.50	3.00	38.00	14.00	1.40	BRIGHT ORANGE	417.30	43.55
Silverhill	Lindcove	11/11/2009	315	9.45	0.79	11.86	10	59.40	5.94	68.60	6.86	0.87	1423.60	142.36	5.40	3.50	48.00	0.00	0.00	10 MED OR	588.20	41.32
Silverhill	Lindcove	11/11/2009	315	10.20	0.79	12.95	10	54.80	5.48	63.60	6.36	0.86	1103.90	110.39	5.60	3.00	44.00	4.00	0.40	10 MED OR	519.70	47.08
Silverhill	Lindcove	11/10/2008	315	9.70	0.86	11.25	10	71.20	7.12	82.20	8.22	0.87	2256.00	225.60	4.20	4.50	51.00	4.00	0.40	ORANGE	791.10	35.07
Silverhill	Lindcove	11/10/2008	315	9.80	0.88	11.13	10	61.50	6.15	70.20	7.02	0.88	1494.80	149.48	4.90	3.00	40.00	6.00	0.60	BRIGHT ORANGE	656.70	43.93
Silverhill	Lindcove	11/15/2007	319	8.30	0.72	11.60	10	67.00	6.70	73.50	7.35	0.91	1639.50	163.95	5.00	4.00	69.00	13.00	1.30	BRIGHT ORANGE	531.10	32.39
Silverhill	Lindcove	11/15/2007	319	10.50	0.73	14.45	10	62.00	6.20	70.00	7.00	0.89	1368.60	136.86	10.50	3.00	54.00	15.00	1.50	BRIGHT ORANGE	455.80	33.30
Silverhill	Lindcove	11/16/2006	320	9.40	0.87	10.80	10	53.40	5.34	69.20	6.92	0.77	1244.30	124.43	7.00	3.50	45.00	0.00	0.00	BRIGHT ORANGE	489.40	39.33
Silverhill	Lindcove	11/16/2006	320	9.90	0.85	11.61	10	53.40	5.34	68.50	6.85	0.78	1235.40	123.54	6.50	3.00	44.00	4.00	0.40	BRIGHT ORANGE	519.30	42.03
Silverhill	Lindcove	11/18/2005	322	8.70	0.72	12.07	10	57.60	5.76	70.20	7.02	0.82	1439.70	143.97	6.00	3.00	40.00	11.00	1.10	MED. ORANGE	628.80	43.68
Silverhill	Lindcove	11/18/2005	322	9.40	0.81	11.66	10	54.40	5.44	66.00	6.60	0.82	1201.70	120.17	7.00	3.00	34.00	15.00	1.50	MED. ORANGE	557.80	46.42
Silverhill	Riverside	9/20/2004	264	8.60	1.64	5.25	10	52.80	5.28	56.60	5.66	0.93	870.70	87.07	3.50	3.00	36.00	10.00	1.00	LIGHT ORANGE	376.70	43.26
Silverhill	Riverside	9/20/2004	264	8.20	1.43	5.72	10	52.30	5.23	57.90	5.79	0.90	892.00	89.20	3.50	3.00	28.00	6.00	0.60	LIGHT ORANGE	392.50	44.00
Silverhill	Riverside	9/25/2009	268	9.65	1.39	6.89	10	42.90	4.29	50.00	5.00	0.86	580.90	58.09	3.70	1.00	25.00	8.00	0.80	10 LT OR	243.00	41.83
Silverhill	Riverside	9/25/2009	268	7.30	0.69	10.63	10	50.20	5.02	58.90	5.89	0.85	891.00	89.10	4.00	1.50	40.00	16.00	1.60	10 MED OR	327.50	36.76
Silverhill	Riverside	9/29/2008	273	8.50	1.12	7.64	10	51.40	5.14	58.40	5.84	0.88	907.50	90.75	3.80	2.00	29.00	41.00	4.10	PALE ORANGE	430.90	47.48
Silverhill	Riverside	9/29/2008	273	9.10	0.87	10.56	10	54.50	5.45	60.70	6.07	0.90	1065.60	106.56	3.90	3.00	38.00	35.00	3.50	ORANGE	486.00	45.61
Silverhill	Riverside	10/1/2007	274	8.30	1.34	6.22	10	53.50	5.35	56.80	5.68	0.94	878.20	87.82	4.00	3.00	28.00	34.00	3.40	BRIGHT ORANGE	379.90	43.26
Silverhill	Riverside	10/1/2007	274	8.80	1.21	7.25	10	53.10	5.31	58.10	5.81	0.91	892.50	89.25	4.00	3.50	33.00	33.00	3.30	BRIGHT ORANGE	335.70	37.61
Silverhill	Riverside	10/2/2006	275	8.80	1.16	7.66	10	45.30	4.53	57.30	5.73	0.79	786.40	78.64	3.50	3.00	31.00	26.00	2.60	1 LT. OR. & 9 OR.	419.10	53.29
Silverhill	Riverside	10/2/2006	275	8.30	1.01	8.22	10	51.60	5.16	64.00	6.40	0.81	1100.00	110.00	3.00	3.50	42.00	6.00	0.60	ORANGE	509.50	46.32
Silverhill	Riverside	10/3/2005	276	9.40	1.05	8.98	10	46.30	4.63	59.70	5.97	0.78	865.20	86.52	3.50	3.00	34.00	5.00	0.50	BRIGHT ORANGE	411.50	47.56
Silverhill	Riverside	10/3/2005	276	8.80	1.08	8.16	10	48.90	4.89	69.40	6.94	0.70	901.30	90.13	3.00	3.00	30.00	28.00	2.80	BRIGHT ORANGE	408.50	45.32
Silverhill	Riverside	10/19/2008	293	9.35	1.16	8.00	10	44.60	4.46	52.20	5.22	0.85	664.20	66.42	4.10	1.50	30.00	11.00	1.10	10 MED OR	308.40	46.43
Silverhill	Riverside	10/19/2008	293	8.35	0.83	10.06	10	51.00	5.10	59.80	5.98	0.85	949.40	94.94	4.00	2.50	40.00	17.00	1.70	10 MED OR	420.80	44.32
Silverhill	Riverside	10/20/2008	294	8.30	1.02	8.13	10	54.50	5.45	65.50	6.55	0.83	1193.70	119.37	4.30	2.00	31.00	54.00	5.40	BRIGHT ORANGE	562.60	47.13
Silverhill	Riverside	10/20/2008	294	8.60	0.97	8.85	10	60.50	6.05	65.10	6.51	0.93	1240.50	124.05	3.00	2.00	32.00	31.00	3.10	BRIGHT ORANGE	512.80	41.34
Silverhill	Riverside	10/22/2007	295	9.20	1.00	9.26	10	50.40	5.04	59.10	5.91	0.85	922.20	92.22	5.00	1.00	25.00	35.00	3.50	BRIGHT ORANGE	395.30	42.86
Silverhill	Riverside	10/22/2007	295	9.60	0.92	10.41	10	52.10	5.21	58.90	5.89	0.88	893.60	89.36	4.50	1.50	37.00	37.00	3.70	BRIGHT ORANGE	344.80	38.59
Silverhill	Riverside	10/23/2006	296	7.30	0.52	13.90	10	44.60	4.46	59.10	5.91	0.75	889.50	88.95	4.50	2.00	31.00	13.00	1.30	BRIGHT ORANGE	490.80	55.18
Silverhill	Riverside	10/23/2006	296	6.40	0.51	12.58	10	49.20	4.92	65.30	6.53	0.75	1121.60	112.16	4.50	3.00	35.00	8.00	0.80	BRIGHT ORANGE	557.70	49.72
Silverhill	Riverside	10/24/2005	297	9.70	0.82	11.94	10	46.40	4.64	61.40	6.14	0.76	911.10	91.11	5.00	3.00	36.00	26.00	2.60	BRIGHT ORANGE	383.40	42.08
Silverhill	Riverside	10/24/2005	297	7.60	0.70	10.93	10	50.80	5.08	64.40	6.44	0.79	1075.60	107.56	5.00	2.00	38.00	3.00	0.30	BRIGHT ORANGE	470.80	43.77
Silverhill	Riverside	10/25/2004	299	8.50	0.88	9.66	10	58.30	5.83	67.00	6.70	0.87	1291.00	129.10	4.50	2.00	40.00	14.00	1.40	BRIGHT ORANGE	575.40	44.57
Silverhill	Riverside	10/25/2004	299	8.20	1.08	7.67	10	63.00	6.30	72.00	7.20	0.88	1500.70	150.07	4.50	2.50	51.00	13.00	1.30	BRIGHT ORANGE	577.70	38.50
Silverhill	Riverside	11/9/2009	313	10.50	0.95	11.08	10	45.00	4.50	55.60	5.56	0.81	735.50	73.55	5.00	2.50	35.00	21.00	2.10	10 MED OR	320.20	43.54
Silverhill	Riverside	11/9/2009	313	9.55	0.82	11.63	10	51.40	5.14	61.50	6.15	0.84	926.70	92.67	5.00	3.00	40.00	20.00	2.00	10 MED OR	377.40	40.73
Silverhill	Riverside	11/10/2008	315	9.70	0.70	13.78	10	58.20	5.82	68.20	6.82	0.85	1352.00	135.20	5.20	1.50	34.00	44.00	4.40	BRIGHT ORANGE	593.90	43.93
Silverhill	Riverside	11/10/2008	315	10.50	0.72	14.60	10	62.20	6.22	62.20	6.22	1.00	1429.70	142.97	3.60	3.00	40.00	33.00	3.30	BRIGHT ORANGE	625.70	43.76
Silverhill	Riverside	11/13/2006	317	9.00	0.52	17.34	10	45.70	4.57	61.50	6.15	0.74	849.90	84.99	6.00	3.00	31.00	12.00	1.20	BRIGHT ORANGE	418.70	49.26
Silverhill	Riverside	11/13/2006	317	8.70	0.64	13.58	10	59.10	5.91	79.00	7.90	0.75	1695.90	169.59	5.00	3.50	40.00	20.00	2.00	BRIGHT ORANGE	707.00	41.69
Silverhill	Riverside	11/13/2007	317	9.20	0.70	13.16	10	58.20	5.82	66.30	6.63	0.88	1245.90	124.59	5.50	3.00	35.00	38.00	3.80	BRIGHT ORANGE	548.10	43.99
Silverhill	Riverside	11/13/2007	317	10.20	0.69	14.88	10	61.10	6.11	69.30	6.93	0.88	1007.10	100.71	5.50	3.00	43.00	35.00	3.50	BRIGHT ORANGE	387.00	38.43
Silverhill	Riverside	11/14/2005	318	10.60	0.86	15.94	10	49.90	4.99	69.50	6.95	0.72	1129.20	112.92	9.50	2.50	41.00	21.00	2.10	BRIGHT ORANGE	468.80	41.52
Silverhill	Riverside	11/14/2005	318	9.10	0.67	13.32	10	54.30	5.43	71.90	7.19	0.76	1335.40	133.54	9.50	2.50	48.00	12.00	1.20	BRIGHT ORANGE	557.70	41.76
Silverhill	Riverside	11/15/2004	320	9.30	0.61	15.24	10	63.50	6.35	73.90	7.39	0.86	1636.00	163.60	10.50	3.00	45.00	7.00	0.70	BRIGHT ORANGE	724.60	44.29
Silverhill	Riverside	11/15/2004	320	10.10	0.70	14.33	10	65.70	6.57	76.70	7.67	0.86	1685.60	168.56	11.00	3.50	53.00	8.00	0.80	BRIGHT ORANGE	651.00	38.62