They have yellow skin almost completely covered with dark-red (which can be a lighter red at lower altitudes) with some russetting and light dots.
Inside, they have firm, tender, juicy flesh with a good, brisk taste with mild tartness.
The fruit ripens September and October.
The tree blooms late to avoid frosts.
Cooking Tips
For fresh-eating.
Storage Hints
Stores well.
History Notes
Originated with a man named Hoover in Edisto, South Carolina around 1850.
First appeared in catalogues in 1856.
Mentioned in Hovey, C.M., Ed. The Magazine of Horticulture etc. Vol 3, # 3, July 1857, p. 33.
Language Notes
The “Black Coal” synonym comes from its very dark colouration.