Citrus paradisi (Grapefruit)
Botanical Information
| Family | Rutaceae |
| Genus | Citrus |
| Species | paradisi |
| Category | Tropicals, Woody |
| Type | Tree (evergreen) |
| Ethnobotanical Uses Disclaimer | Grapefruit can interact with many medications, including chemotherapy treatments, making them more or less effective and throwing off the prescribed dose. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 9 - 11 |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | Requires cold season protection under glass. |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H1c - H4 |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | -10 - 10 |
| Temperature (°F) | 14 - 50 |
| Height | 4.5 - 6 m |
| Spread | 6 m |
| Growth | Medium |
| Flowering Period | January, February, November, December |
Description and Growing Information
| General Description | Medium sized tree that grows grapefruits. Gets it name because the fruit grows in clusters resembling grapes. |
| ID Characteristic | Produces large sweet-sour fruit that is often served as a breakfast food. |
| Propagation | Can be grown from seed or by cuttings. |
| Cultivation | Grows best in sandy soils and full sun. Water deeply on a weekly basis in summer and monthly in winter. Do not fertilize for the first two years. |
| Pests | Mediterranean fruit flies, Giant Swallowtail Butterfly caterpillars, fungal leaf spots, blights, root rot and viruses. Xylella a bacterial disease is a serious threat to many horticultures crops due to its virulence and wide range of species it can infect. It can infect more than 560 species with wide ranging symptoms including leaf scorch, yellowing and scorching, wilt, branch and twig dieback and plant death. These symptoms can be identical to other symptoms such as drought and weather stress. Infected plants show symptoms within a few years after planting. |
| Notable Specimens | Centennial Conservatory, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. |
| Leaf Description | Ovate, 7.5 - 17.5 cm long, 4.5 - 7.5 cm wide. |
| Flower Description | Large, aromatic flowers grow in clusters of 2 - 20 with 4 petals per flower. |
| Fruit Description | Globose to pear-shaped, 10 - 15 cm in diameter. Thick skin with juicy flesh that is divided into 11 - 14 segments, with very few seeds. Flavour ranges from sweet-tart to sour or bitter. |
| Colour Description | Flowers are white. Leaves are green. Fruit skin starts green and mature to yellow-orange. Fruit flesh ranges from yellow, orange, to pinkish red. |
| Texture Description | Leaves are leathery and glossy. |
Photographs
Citrus paradisi, Form.
Citrus paradisi, Leaf.
