Bishop Citrandarin

Bishop Citrandarin is described by The Mulberries as a seedling selection of US-852 selected by Alan Bishop. Virginia Fruit Grower reports that the original plant was sold as US-852 but later distinguished by its double flowers and different fruit.^⁠[4]⁠[6]

Flowers are white to cream-white and may be double, although not every bloom has the double form. Leaves can be single, bifoliate, trifoliate, or intermediate. The Mulberries observes both upright plants with horizontal branches and shrubbier specimens; newly transplanted Bishop trees at the central North Carolina site developed sparser foliage during heat and drought than neighboring US-1279 trees.^⁠[4]

The fruit has orange rind and orange-to-yellow flesh. In side-by-side tasting, The Mulberries found Bishop moderately sweet and tart, with orange-and-lemon flavor, less herbal character than US-852, very slight flesh bitterness, and low perceived trifoliate off-flavor. Peeling was somewhat difficult and messy; juice and seediness were moderate in that sample. The presenter enjoyed it fresh and suggested juice and preserves. Virginia Fruit Grower also found a tart orange flavor suitable for fresh eating or juicing, but described numerous seeds in that sample.^⁠[5]⁠[6]

Reported fruit measurements vary by sample: The Mulberries video recorded 58 g and 10.5 °Brix, while Virginia Fruit Grower measured a fruit about 5 cm across at 14 °Brix. The Mulberries’ accompanying scorecard records pH ≤3.0, included in the fruit summary as approximately 3.0. The video and scorecard represent one review. These are individual observations, not cultivar averages or a precise laboratory acidity result.^{⁠[5]⁠[6]⁠[7]}

At a Zone 8a site in central North Carolina, The Mulberries reports good winter dormancy and little damage, without a measured minimum that establishes a tolerance limit. A separate account from Mel in Pennsylvania, relayed by the presenter, describes Bishop surviving with damage around or below 2°F (about −17°C) and recovering afterward; the freeze duration, protection, and event dates were not supplied.^⁠[4]⁠[5]