Silverhill
Citrus reticulata
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Description
Silverhill is an early Satsuma mandarin — a nucellar seedling selection of Owari raised by W. T. Swingle around 1908 and introduced about 1931 after field testing at Silverhill, Alabama, where it survived freezes that badly damaged standard Satsumas. It is markedly cold-resistant (virtually identical to Frost Owari in US collections) and recommended as an early-shipping variety. Fruit are medium-sized and slightly oblate with an easy-peel rind — described as thick-skinned in NZ — and sweet, juicy flesh in segments that separate easily; sugars run high with low acid for a very sweet, mild flavour. It ripens very early (ready for picking from the end of May into July), Very Early on the NZ mandarin scale, and keeps on the tree and in storage better than Owari. The tree is very vigorous for a Satsuma with a more upright habit, productive once established, though rank growth can invite scab and delay full bearing. Best for fresh dessert use. Needs full sun in rich, organic, moist free-draining soil to sweeten; protect from harsh frost when young.
Characteristics
Fruit Size
Medium
Peel Colour
Orange
Flesh Colour
Orange
Harvest Timing (NZ)
Very Early
Seediness
Seedless
Growth Habit
Upright
Thorny
Notes
Early Satsuma; nucellar Owari seedling raised by W. T. Swingle (1908), introduced c.1931 after surviving Alabama freezes that damaged standard Satsumas — markedly cold-resistant. Thick-skinned (NZ) easy-peel fruit; ready end May into July. Rank growth can invite scab and delay full bearing. (Near-identical to Frost Owari, which is not in the catalog.)
Fruit Use
Dessert
Flavour Profile
Sweet, Juicy, Rich
Storage Life
Good
Country Availability
Known to be available in 1 country