I stopped by Dr Brown's house today in Houston. He is a very frail 87 year old. His voice was very faint as well. He started hybridizing cold hardy citrus more than 50 years ago. He was very friendly and showed me around his yard. Everywhere we went were planted citrus seedlings. I was there to meet him and get some budwood for his seedless kumquat. I tasted a few as well. They were nice, but not as sweet as meiwa. I've tried other seedless kumquats available from Treesearch in Houston and it never gets sweet and never turns orange(based on a mature tree in March.) He recounted his experience discovering the sunquat. He thinks it's a hybrid of meyer lemon and kumquat. I've also heard it was discovered under a clementine tree.

Thanks MrTexas,
Those seedless kumquats from Dr.Brown look great and are really seedless.
Terry

Many thanks for posting the photos Mr. Texas!

It's great to confirm that Dr. Brown has a good tasting seedless kumquat. Since Ned & Don and I weren't successful with the wood Matt in Dallas shared from Dr. Brown's tree last June, we would be interested in trying it again sometime.

Did you take some photos of Dr. Brown or obtain any wood from his Changsha x Clementine?

Thanks,

Keith

didn't take any other pictures as was on the way to waco, tx. dr brown's voice was very weak. didn't see the changsha x clementine.

Phil,
I'm glad you visited Dr. Brown. Hopefully that kumquat budwood takes for you as the wood I collected last June did not. His changsha x clementine plants were 3' to 4' tall and growing between the driveway and fence. They were seedlings from his large tree at his former home in Franklin, TX.
Matt

Thanks for the infomation and pictures Mr. Texas.

I did get some of the scions Matt gave me to take, but, as Keith said, none of the kumquates made it.

The Clementine x Changsha took. I also have a Clementine x Changsha seedling given to me by Tom McLendon 3 or 4 years ago, which had one fruit last year. The fruit tasted better than Changsha, but I am not sure what to expect as far a hardiness goes. I have heard reports that indicate that Changsha may not be any more hardy that a Satsuma - maybe not as hardy. Anyway, I am keeping my fingers crossed that this one will be. The same tree, which is still in a container, has quite a few buds this spring.

One thing I see to recommend it is that Matt tells us Dr. Brown thought enough of it to plant seedlings at his new house.

I have a question. I have read that, when referring to hybrids, the female parent should be listed first. Wouldn't that make the Clementine/Changsha hybrid as I have listed it above, or should it be the other way around? I assume Clementine was the female parent.

Ned