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Recorded contributions to citrus breeding, introduction, and history.
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World of CitrusWorld of CitrusRecorded contributions to citrus breeding, introduction, and history.
3 credits across 2 varieties · William Saunders
Introduced the common trifoliate orange into the United States in 1869.
The Barnes trifoliate page reports Poncirus trifoliata as introduced into the United States in 1869. Arkansas Extension records an earlier 1823 Prince Nursery listing and says William Saunders later popularized hardy orange; 1869 is retained as a reported introduction date, not an unqualified first availability.
United States
Received the Bahia navel material from Brazil in 1870, propagated it at the USDA in Washington, D.C., and distributed trees for trial in the United States.
In 1870, twelve budded Bahia navel trees were received from Bahia, Brazil, by William Saunders at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. Saunders established them under glass and propagated additional plants for distribution.
Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Sources: [1]
UCR’s historical account identifies Tibbets among those who received trees from Washington; UC ANR separately recounts that Saunders sent two plants to Eliza Tibbets in 1873. UCR’s March 1874 planting account is distinct, and the exact planting date is not resolved here.
The Citrus Industry dates Washington navel's introduction at Riverside to 1873 and its first fruiting there to 1878. UC ANR separately recounts Saunders sending two plants to Eliza Tibbets in 1873. UCR reports a March 1874 planting account; these sources describe distinct milestones and do not establish one uncontested arrival or planting date.
Riverside, California, United States