Fruit tree Citrus x paradisi yellow citrus, full soil

Credit: Jean

Pomelo yellow fruit Citru x paradisi

Credit: Syrio

Citrus fruit pink flesh yellow rind Pomelo

Credit: Aleph

White flowers Citrus x Paradisi

Credit: Dguendel

Citrus x paradisi, don't call it grapefruit!

Citrus x paradisi is a tree native to the West Indies, belonging to the Rutaceae family. It is the result of a cross between orange tree and the grapefruit tree. The latter produces grapefruit, a fruit with a thick rind that is so acidic it cannot be eaten. Citrus x paradisi produces pomelos, a citrus fruit with a subtle balance of sweet, sour and bitter flavors.

How to recognize Citrus x paradisi?

Citrus x paradisi is a tree with a rounded habit. Larger than lemon tree, it reaches a height of ten meters and a width of five meters when planted in its natural environment. In our latitudes or in pots, its growth is more modest. But it remains over two meters tall. If you want to grow a citrus fruit in bonsai, turn to citrus margarita!

With its fragrant evergreen foliage, Citrus x paradisi is a feast for the senses. The deep-green, lanceolate leaves have a star-shaped petiole. The leaf blades bear small black spots. These are the essence pockets. When squeezed, they release pomelo essential oil.

Spring flowering is characterized by the blooming of white, starry flowers. They appear in clusters and give off a citrus fragrance.

They give way to the fruit, pomelo or false grapefruit. These spheres, eight to fifteen centimetres in diameter, weigh between 300 and 600 grams. Their yellow or pink rind protects the juicy flesh, which is also pink or yellow. Its acidity depends on the variety.

Pummelos are non-toxic and can be eaten plain, in juice or as a condiment. However, they can interact with certain enzymes found in medicines, leading to overdose.

Our maintenance tips

Maintaining a Citrus x paradisi 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 x paradisi 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

Citrus x paradisi likes humidity, but not at root level. Water only when the rootball has dried to a depth of two or three centimeters.

Use non-calcareous water, such as rainwater, at room temperature. If you've placed your houseplant on a dish, empty the stagnant water each time it appears.

Repotting

In spring, transfer your Citrus x paradisi to a larger pot, so that it can continue to grow.

When roots protrude from the pot or are visible on the surface, it's time to repot!

To prepare your Citrus x paradisi for repotting, soak the root ball. Then gently loosen the root ball.

Choose a terracotta pot or a wooden tub. Both materials encourage water evaporation and reduce the risk of over-watering. Make sure the container is perforated to allow water to drain away.

At the bottom, place a bed of clay balls or gravel to facilitate drainage.

Top up with a rich substrate, such as special citrus or planting soil. You can make your own mixture with :

one-third planting soil
one-third garden soil
pozzolan.

Place your shrub in the center. The surface of the rootball should be two centimetres below the rim of the pot. Fill with substrate and tamp to eliminate air bubbles. When planting, do not bury the collar.

Fertilization

You can stimulate the development of your plant during its growth phase, in spring and summer, with fertilizer.

Citrus x paradisi are greedy plants. They need to be fertilized. Feed yours with a special liquid or granulated citrus fertilizer.

Cleaning

The dust that accumulates on the leaves of your Citrus x paradisi slows down the photosynthesis process. To enable it to thrive, dust regularly and gently.

To remove dust, wipe both sides of the leaf with a soft, slightly damp cloth. Support the larger ones with your other hand to prevent damage.

If your plant looks dirty, you can add some black soap to the water to moisten your cloth.

Harvest

Pick the fruit from the tree when it's ripe.

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 x paradisi during its growing season.

To encourage stem branching, pinch off the terminal buds.

Plantation

Once the last spring frosts have passed, you can 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 x paradisi 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

Family	Rutaceae - Rutaceae
Type	Citrus - Citrus
Species	Citrus x paradisi - Citrus x paradisi
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Evergreen
Exposures	Sun Half-shade
Substrat	Humus soil
Planting methods	Open ground In pots In tubs
Categories	Tree Shrub Fruit tree
Tag	Edible fruit
Origin	Central America
Hardiness (USDA)	9a
Leaf color
Flower color
Fruit colors