History

Discovered

H. C. Barrett observed a spontaneous variegated twig mutation on US 1515, an unnamed breeding selection originating from open-pollinated ‘Nagami’ kumquat seed.

• H. C. BarrettDiscoverer

  Observed the spontaneous variegated mutation on a small twig of US 1515 in 1986.

Sources: ⁠[1]

Released

‘Centennial’ Variegated kumquat was released by the Agricultural Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture as an ornamental kumquat hybrid.

• USDA Agricultural Research ServiceReleasing Organization

  Released ‘Centennial’ Variegated kumquat in 1993.

Sources: ⁠[1]

Selected

Buds from the variegated twig on US-1515 were propagated on Poncirus trifoliata rootstock soon after the mutation was discovered in 1986. The plants were grown in containers at the U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory in Orlando, Florida, for ornamental use. The 1995 cultivar register identifies H. C. Barrett as the selector.

• H. C. BarrettSelector

  Identified as the selector of Centennial by the 1995 cultivar register, Kumquat section, page 1139.

• U.S. Horticultural Research LaboratoryDeveloper

  Maintained the propagated mutant in containers on Poncirus trifoliata rootstock in Orlando for ornamental use, as documented in Barrett’s 1993 release paper.

Sources: ⁠[1]⁠[4]⁠[5]

Named

The selection was named ‘Centennial’ in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory.

Sources: ⁠[1]