Rusk Citrange

Rusk citrange was one of three seedlings from a single hybrid fruit produced in 1897 in Col. G. H. Norton’s grove at Eustis, Florida. Webber and Swingle identify the cross as common orange female × trifoliate orange male; UCR’s historical account calls the female parent Ruby orange and credits W. T. Swingle with creating the hybrid. UCR says it was described and released in 1905.^⁠[9]⁠[1]

The fruit is described as round to slightly oblate, broader than long, with a thin adherent, leathery rind and orange or yellow flesh.^⁠[1]⁠[8]

Historical descriptions emphasize very juicy, aromatic fruit that is too sour to eat out of hand. Later individual tastings vary: one presenter found a fruit quite bitter but not very sour, while another described high acidity and moderate bitterness.^{⁠[9]⁠[12]⁠[13]}

In Florida rootstock trials, Rusk was described as semi-dwarf with Valencia and a mid-season sweet-orange scion, and as moderately vigorous with Hamlin and Valencia. These results concern grafted scions under specific trial conditions; the semi-dwarf study cautioned that droughty soil affected growth.^{⁠[15]⁠[16]}

UCR lists Riverside ripening in October–November. A Southwest Washington grower reported survival in dormant conditions, but this does not establish a tested minimum temperature.^{⁠[7]⁠[11]}