The collection is composed of over 1000 accessions, planted as two trees of each of various types of citrus and citrus relatives. The collection largely comprises accessions within the genusCitrus, the remaining types are included among 28 other related genera in the RutaceaesubfamilyAurantioideae.
The collection consists of approximately 25 acres (10 ha) on the UCR campus, 2 acres (0.81 ha) at the South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine, California, and 2 acres (0.81 ha) at the Coachella Valley Agricultural Research Station in Thermal, California. It includes accessions that were first introduced in the early 20th century, as well as varieties brought in over time from various curators, and newer varieties that were more recently developed by breeding or brought in as material through the Citrus Clonal Protection Program (CCPP), a special program that evaluates the trees for the nursery and citrus industries.
The collection is one of the most diverse citrus germplasm collections. Aside from its foundations of supporting research, the collection also supports educational tours and extension activities through the University of California, Riverside.
David Karp photographed the fruit and trees of the CVC, which are placed on the web by Toni Siebert.
Curators
R. Smith (1909–1911) Superintendent of Whittier and Rubidoux Labs
John Eliot Coit (1911–1912) Superintendent of Whittier and Rubidoux Labs