Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck

CRC 4200
VI 759

Source

Received as budwood from Rio Farms, Texas, 07/2008.

Parentage/origins

"The Everhard Navel (Citrus sinensis) originated in Texas' Rio Grande Valley. A bud-sport from the old line 'Washington', the 'Everhard' was discovered and cultivated by the grandfather of Clay Everhard, a long-time Texas citrus grower."

Rootstocks of accession

Carrizo citrange, C-35 citrange

Season of ripeness at Riverside

November to January

Notes and observations

"Everhard is reported to have smaller fruit that are oval to round. The navel is very small and closed, commonly being inconspicuous or absent altogether. The fruit is thin-skinned, very flavorful, and it reaches maturity in late September. Everhard originated in Texas' Rio Grande Valley. A bud-sport from the old line 'Washington', the 'Everhard' was discovered and cultivated by the grandfather of Clay Everhard, a long-time Texas citrus grower. Everhard is typically more compact that the average 'Washington', comparative testing by Texa A&M Univesity proved that the Everhard has more consistent bearing levels and higher resistance to post-harvest decay than several other navel varieties.

RRK, 10/19/2009: According to Sauls (1998), "The two most widely planted navel orange varieties in Texas are 'Everhard' and 'N33E'. 'Everhard' is similar to the 'Baianinha Piracicaba' of Brazil, having rather smaller fruit that are oval to round. The navel is very small and closed, commonly being inconspicuous or absent altogether. The fruit is thin skinned, of very good flavor, and it reaches maturity in late September [in South Texas]." Additional information from Sauls (2008) states that "Everhard is a smaller fruit characterized by a very small or no navel; it is a consistent producer." According to the Acorn Springs Farms website, "While the 'Everhard' is typically more compact than the average 'Washington', comparative testing by Texas A&M University proved that the Everhard had more consistent (fruit) bearing levels and higher resistance to post-harvest decay than several other navel varieties. The Everhard Navel is so reliable, in fact, that the commercial citrus industry south of New Orleans purchased thousands of them to replace other navel varieties destroyed in a hurricane."

TJS, 12/15/2015: ‘Everhard’ navel is reported to be a local navel orange variety originating as a bud-sport found in the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas. It was developed by Clay Everhard of Everhard Nursery in McAllen, Texas, after being discovered in the 1920s by his grandfather, a veteran citrus grower near Pharr, Texas. The fruits are reported to mature in late September, and are considered very flavorful with 1-2 seeds per fruit. ‘Everhard’ trees are typically more compact that the average 'Washington'.  Comparative testing by Texas A&M University demonstrated that the Everhard had more consistent bearing levels and higher resistance to post-harvest decay than several other navel varieties. According to Hensz (1981), the oval to round fruit is smaller than a ‘Washington’ navel with thin skin and an inconspicuous to completely absent navel. Although the fruit may be smaller, Hensz reports that the production is superior. He describes ‘Everhard’ as a variety that was unpopular for many years because the fruit did not look like navel oranges, however the demand for fresh  fruit gift baskets from the south Texas area caused increased planting of this variety because of its reported higher yields. 

According to Sauls (1998), "The two most widely planted navel orange varieties in Texas are 'Everhard' and 'N33E', and that ’Everhard' is similar to the 'Bahianinha Piracicaba' of Brazil.  Acorn Springs Farms (no longer in business) reported, “the Everhard Navel is so reliable, in fact, that the commercial citrus industry south of New Orleans purchased thousands of them to replace other navel varieties destroyed in a hurricane."

Availability

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

USDA Germplasm Resources Information Network page for Everhard navel orange

Bibliography

Sauls, JW. 2008. Rootstock and scion varieties. unspecified Texas Citrus & Subtropical Fruits (01/2008).

Sauls, JW. 1998. Home fruit production - oranges. unspecified Texas Citrus & Subtropical Fruits (12/1998).

Bovee, C. 1993. Rio Farm's Citrus Variety Collection. unspecified Rio Farms, Inc 1992-1993 Research Report, pp 98-103.

CVC Fruit Quality data for Everhard navel orange

Controls used in evaluations were Parent Washington and Fukumoto navel oranges.