Rusk Citrange

A hardy, evergreen citrus, also known as a Citrange or sweet orange, with the trifoliate leaves of its Poncirus parent, but a bit larger and darker. White, sweetly scented flowers in spring. The orange fruits are small with a reddish flush, and though somewhat less bitter than their Citrange relatives, still, are best used for juice -- or simply as garden adornments. Plant in fertile, moist, well-drained soil in a sunny position. Plants are tall, to 6-8', vigorous, and frost hardy to USDA zone 7, though, as new growth is susceptible to frost, they benefit from a protected site. Very nice in container with proper watering, just as soil becomes nearly dry. A citrange, one of the oldest, developed in 1897 and named for J.M.Rusk, the first Secretary of Agriculture. Who knew? Vigorous, small, evergreen to semi-evergreen tree, with Poncirus' trifoliate leaves and thorns. Fruit is orange flushed with red, seedless, and less bitter than a Poncirus, useful in juice, maramalades, etc. Sun with regular summer water. Frost hardy to 0 °F, USDA zone 7.