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joe_lohnes

Uganda cherry-orange

9 years ago

1-4-'17 Hoping to find a collector or grower how has this plant and will share/sell seeds or budwood.

Uganda cherry-orange Citropsis schweinfurthii, a citrus relative. Years ago I bought seed from Trade winds and grew the plant. Since greening became a fear they no longer offer citrus seed. UC-R has no seed. Couple of years ago, on the coldest night of winter my GH heater failed. I lost plants including the cherry orange. There is confusion and disagreement among "experts" as to which citropsis I grew, there are a couple, and the leaves are totally different. I've attached a photo of the plant I am seeking.


I have collected and kept citrus for years and moderated on several citrus sites. Many thanks! "Citrus Joe" in Colorado.


Comments (35)

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    The tree is also famously known for its roots, which some claim as an herbal alternative to Viagra. It is also illegal in this country

  • 9 years ago

    If you had one it would be grandfathered in as legal. They cannot be sold anymore in some citrus states.

    6b Steve

  • 9 years ago

    Go for it.

    6b Steve

    Joe Lohnes thanked poncirusguy6b452xx
  • 9 years ago

    That certainly is a unique (and awesome) leaf pattern!

    Joe Lohnes thanked tom1328732
  • 9 years ago

    There is a variegated B.H.??? Wow that would be amazing!! My B.H. is my favorite tree it is gorgeous and the mini hands growing are so cool. Can you post a pic?

  • 9 years ago

    That is NOT the leaf structure of a Uganda cherry-orange (Citropsis schweinfurthii). I just ordered some seed.

  • 9 years ago

    Can you guide us as to source?

    Yikes.. yet another plant to add to the collection!

  • 9 years ago

    Where's Junk4us? :)))

  • 9 years ago

    @molewacker - Don't know for sure if it is a reliable source or if it will make it since I ordered from Uganda. If it works out I will let you know, I don't want to post a source that turns out to be a scam.

  • 9 years ago

    My guess, if the seed has to come all the way from Uganda to the USA I would not think that the seed would still be viable.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Distance has nothing to do with viability! I have bought seeds, cuttings, and rhizomes (like galangal), from all over the world for several years and never had a problem with germination, viability, or getting the correct plant - biggest problem is not receiving the item and having to get a refund. Besides that the prices are FAR cheaper (including postage) than in the US, and often BETTER quality! Also NEVER order in the middle of winter or middle of summer - temperature extremes will kill.


    And YES, Silica, seed condition is also critical.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Well you must be the luckiest person in the world. I wish I had a dollar for every time, I read threads from people that have ordered citrus seeds on line, only to have them arrive dry and dead. Citrus seeds don't live long after being removed from the fruit, unless they are carefully refrigerated and treated for mildews.. If I was you I would buy a lottery ticket.

  • 9 years ago

    I have received two varieties of citrus seeds (36 seeds total) in March from vendor in US and got >90% germination rate.

  • 9 years ago

    Vladimir, if you want to purchase citrus seed , March is one of the best months of the year. to buy them.

  • 9 years ago

    SIlica, you are correct --------- again.

  • 9 years ago

    I have to admit that these are the first "citrus" seeds that I have purchased, because THIS citrus tree is so hard to find. I have approx. 20 other citrus trees (grapefruit, tangerine, blood orange, lemon, lime, naval orange, and kumquat) that I grew from seeds that I got from fruit that I bought (free seeds). All so far have produced true to their kind; and I have grafted to them from seedless varieties that I have "encountered" in my travels. And here in NC I grow ALL of my citrus in 20 gallon pots and winter them in my green house. If I get these seeds and they germinate, I'll let you know!

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Sunshine lol! I have no patience for seed grown trees. I can't go back in time 20 years to plant it :(

  • 9 years ago

    Hey junk4us, I normally don't have the patience either, but when I saw the price of just one citrus tree (knowing I wanted several varieties), plus shipping, it was worth the wait. Now I'm also doing it with pawpaws, from seed and grafting to "wild rootstock".

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    why graft paw paws to wild rootstock. They grow fine on their roots. I have 3 and they spread.

    Steve

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    @poncircusguy - They "sped"? I graft when I find a variety someone has that I don't and they don't have or won't give up seeds, or their tree is not producing fruit yet, usually they will give up a cutting or two; besides a graft will produce fruit sooner. Since pawpaws will not self-pollinate and cannot pollinate with those of it's same genetic makeup (all trees/suckers that come from the same tree cannot pollinate each other), I can graft multiple varieties to one rootstock and have a "self-pollinating" tree. I do this when I give them to family/friends or sell them.

  • 9 years ago

    That makes a lot of sense. "sped" was supposed to be spread. I got it corrected above. I really don't like Paw Paws since I found out that I couldn't protect them from raccoons.

    Steve

  • 9 years ago

    I have 3 paw paws all from the same mother plant. I don't know where there pollinator is. I live in the inner city of Cincinnati, OH.

    Steve

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I have a grow chamber that allows you to go from seed to fruit in four years. That's what constant warmth and humidity can do, combined with a constant source of light, which doesn't scorch plants in the middle of the day like the sun can sometimes do. Consistent water and soil that retains water well without drying out is the other secret.

    I'm sure rootstock would probably cut that down to only 3 years.

  • 9 years ago

    "I'm sure rootstock would probably cut that down to only 3 years"

    I wouldn't give rootstook that much credit.

    Steve

  • 8 years ago

    I made the initial post a little over a year ago. Glad to say that I now have a health, 3'+ plant from seed. Plant is identical to one I showed in the pic. Paw, paw comment: I also have a health, fruit producing tree, growing in the ground in N-central Colo. I do pollinate (from the same tree) and get fruit. My tree has been recognized and recorded as the largest, known tree in the state by the Colo Tree Coalition. Pics later. Another comment... citrus seeds can be successfully stored for months... if done properly.

  • 8 years ago


  • 8 years ago

    Wow, so cool to have a champion tree!

    How do you properly store citrus seed to retain viability?

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    poncirusguy - It's not the rootstock that makes the plant fruit earlier, it is the graft if it comes from a mature, fruiting tree.

    Joe Lohnes - There is a very simple explanation for your paw paw pollinating "itself". Your tree is likely a grafted tree (especially since it is in Colorado). Paw paws are notorious for producing new "offspring" from underground roots. The rootstock of your tree has likely produced some limbs, suckers, or shoots below the graft line which means you have TWO lineages blooming. OR there is another paw paw in your "neighborhood".

    Do you have a photo of your paw paw tree?

    hibiscus909 - Citrus seeds will remain viable for a few months to a few years if they are kept from drying out and kept very cool (depending on variety/species). The reason so few citrus seeds are viable is likely due to the excessive hybridization (just an educated guess).

    The seeds for the Uganda-cherry I ordered never arrived. I contacted the seller and got a refund, and I told him I would try to order again this spring.

  • 8 years ago

    Sorry for reviving a dead thread 4 months later. Did you ever get your seeds? I think I ordered from the same sell (ebay right?) a few months ago and despite using poor germination conditions I got 4 seedlings. They have a few tiny leaves now but people have been talking on the agrumes passion forums and saying these look kind of weird. oblongish cotyledons (may be because the house was dry though) and the leaves look like meyer lemon or kumquat but they are tiny so the morphology is certainly up in the air. We will see in a month or two if they become compound. They were polyembrionic.

    If they survive I'd be happy to send you one. What did the fruit taste like?

  • 8 years ago

    Hey citropsis, were you replying to me? I didn't get the seed, but got a refund. If it is me you were replying to, I'd love to have one of the seedlings - you can never have too many plants, especially citrus. Don't get what you were referring to when you asked "what did the fruit taste like?"

  • 8 years ago

    where do you get seeds i search everywhere but find nothing.

  • 8 years ago

    Hey Timo Pfortner, who were you replying to?

  • 8 years ago

    general I'm looking for sources of the uganda cherry I had time seeds unfortunately germinated only 3 and then died.

  • 8 years ago

    I have a collection of more than 150 mostly winter hardy hybrids of citruses and I like to manage them. I find no source in Germany