Grapefruit Citrus maxima, the citrus of all records!
Citrus maxima
- Exposures
- Sun, Half-shade
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 9b (-3.9°C ≤ T° < -1.1°C)
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Family
- Rutaceae
- Genus
- Citrus
- Species
- Citrus maxima
Other names:Aurantium maximum, Ctirus grandis, Aurantium decumana, Citrus pampelmos
Less popular than its cousin citrus x paradisi and its pomelos, Citrus maxima and its grapefruits nonetheless stand out in the Rutaceae family. This tree, native to Laos and Cambodia, is distinguished by its large size and the size of its fruit.
How can you recognize the grapefruit tree, Citrus maxima?
Citrus maxima is the largest of the citrus fruits. This tree, with a dense, spreading canopy, can grow over twelve meters tall and five meters wide when grown in the ground.
The grapefruit tree has a short, sturdy trunk with grayish-green or yellowish bark. The irregular branches are covered with thorns and even hairs when the twigs are young.
The leaves, on the other hand, are smooth. Oval to elliptical in shape, they are a glossy dark green. They give off a sweet scent when crumpled.
Flowering occurs in the spring. The waxy white flowers bloom in the leaf axils. They appear either singly or in clusters. Highly fragrant, they attract many pollinators.
It's hard to believe that such delicate flowers will produce one of the largest fruits! Spherical or slightly flattened, a grapefruit can weigh up to eight kilograms and measure up to 30 centimeters in diameter! Its thick, yellow or green skin conceals flesh that is not very juicy, tart, and bitter.
The grapefruit is an edible fruit. In addition to its nutritional properties, it is said to have medicinal benefits. While some of these benefits remain to be proven, one thing is certain: Citrus maxima is not toxic, either upon contact or if ingested. It is safe for both us and our pets.
Our care tips
Maintaining a Citrus maxima is not difficult. Above all, you need to protect it from frost in winter and provide it with the nutrients it needs to grow. With the right potting soil and regular fertilizing, you'll soon be enjoying your own citrus fruits.
Citrus maxima citrus trees need regular watering all year round. During hot spells, water early in the morning or in the evening. Water evaporates less quickly, and your shrub benefits from it for longer.
Watering
Water your Citrus maxima when the potting soil has dried on the surface, for at least three centimetres.
Supply the plant with non-calcareous water at room temperature. Rainwater is best. If you don't have any, you can filter mains water or leave it to stand for 24 hours.
After watering, check the saucer or planter. If stagnant water appears, empty it. It could rot the roots.
Repotting
Every year in the spring, repot your Citrus maxima to give it more space.
When roots are sticking out of the pot or visible on the surface, it's time to repot!
To prepare your Citrus maxima for repotting, soak the root ball. Then gently loosen the root ball.
Choose a terracotta pot or a wooden planter. Both materials promote water evaporation and reduce the risks associated with excessive watering. Make sure the container has drainage holes to allow water to drain.
Place a layer of clay pellets or gravel at the bottom to aid drainage.
Fill the rest with a rich substrate, such as a special citrus potting mix or general-purpose potting mix. You can make your own mix using:
- one-third potting mix;
- one-third garden soil;
- pozzolan.
Place your shrub in the center. The top of the root ball should be two centimeters below the rim of the pot. Fill in with substrate and firm it down to remove air pockets. When planting, be sure not to bury the root collar.
Fertilization
To promote the growth of your Citrus maxima, apply fertilizer in spring and summer.
Citrus maxima are greedy plants. They need to be fertilized. Feed yours with a special liquid or granulated citrus fertilizer.
Cleaning
Cleaning the leaves with a clean, damp cloth removes dust and limits pest attacks.
Prune
Size is not essential. It only helps to control shape and development and improves fruiting. When pruning, always use clean, sharp pruning shears.
Citrus trees flower and fruit on the year's wood. To maintain the compact, rounded shape of your shrub, remove dead branches and shoots growing along the trunk. You can also aerate the center by removing some shoots that have already borne fruit in previous years.
If you want to improve your harvest, you can also carry out a fruiting pruning operation: one month after the appearance of a new shoot, prune it back to a height of 20 centimetres.
Pinch
Pinch your Citrus maxima during its growing season.
Pinch to encourage branching. When new leaves appear, pinch them between your fingers. Snip the leaf with your fingernails.
Planting
When the risk of frost has passed, it's time to plant.
Find them a place sheltered from the wind and isolated from other plants. Citrus plants have shallow roots and don't like to share their space.
Dig a hole 70 centimetres wide and 1 metre in diameter. While you're at it, soak the root ball.
Plant the plant in the middle, with the top of the rootball level with the ground. Take care not to bury the collar.
Citrus maxima plants thrive in light, well-drained, rich soil. When filling in, add potting soil or citrus soil to your garden soil. Tamp and water.
Diseases / Threats
Information
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Exposures
- SunHalf-shade
- Substrate
- Humus soil
- Planting methods
- Open groundIn potsIn tubs
- Categories
- TreeFruit treeFlowery
- Tag
- Edible fruit
- Origin
- Southeast Asia
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 9b (-3.9°C ≤ T° < -1.1°C)
- Leaf color
- Dark green
- Flower color
- White
- Fruit colors
- Light greenYellow
Discover plants from the same family
Lemon tree
Citrus x limon
Clementine
Citrus x clementina
Mandarin
Citrus reticulata
Orange
Citrus sinensis
Find out more
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