Origin: in Beltsville, Md., and Fresno, Calif., by the Crops Research Division, Agr. Res. Serv., U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. Introd. in 1958. [Sunhigh × (Admiral Dewey × St. John) selfed]; cross made in 1946 at Beltsville; seed planted in Fresno in 1950; selected as promising in 1953 by Leon Havis; tested as USDA F-14. Tree: above average in vigor; productive, though tending to set less heavily than Redhaven; petals small, opening later than Elberta but before Redhaven. Fruit: size medium; ovate; skin pubescence light, three-fourths of surface covered with a bright, attractive, red blush over a yellow ground color; flesh yellow, texture smooth, flavor good, firm but melting; freestone; when fully mature, similar to Redhaven and Coronet; firmer, more highly colored and smoother in shape than Redhaven; does not tend to soften first on suture and apex; resembles Coronet, differing primarily in ripening about 3 days later and in being somewhat more acid.
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