Grapefruit | Description, Cultivation, & Facts - Britannica

Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos grapefruit Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics Images Quizzes What’s on the Menu? Vocabulary Quiz Fruit or Vegetable? A Quiz Plants: From Cute to Carnivorous Contents Entertainment & Pop Culture Food CITE verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/plant/grapefruit Feedback External Websites Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites

• Healthline - 10 Science-Based Benefits of Grapefruit
• Pennsylvania State University - PlantVillage - Grapefruit
• The Spruce - How to Grow and Care for Grapefruit Trees
• Johns Hopkins Medicine - Grapefruit Benefits
• National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - The grapefruit: an old wine in a new glass? Metabolic and cardiovascular perspectives
• International Journal of Advanced Biochemistry Research - Plant growth and yield performance of grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Macf.) cultivars (PDF)
• Cleveland Clinic - Does the Grapefruit Diet Work?
• American Society for Horticultural Science - HortTechnology - Grapefruit: History, Use, and Breeding
• WebMD - Grapefruit - Uses, Side Effects, and More
• North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox - Citrus x paradisi

Britannica Websites Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

• grapefruit - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
• grapefruit - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

grapefruit tree and fruit Ask Anything Homework Help Also known as: Citrus × paradisi, pomelo Written and fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Feb. 5, 2026 •History Britannica AI Ask Anything Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask Anything

grapefruit, (Citrus ×paradisi), citrus tree of the Rutaceae family and its edible fruit. The grapefruit probably originated in Barbados as a hybrid of shaddock (Citrus grandis). It became well established as a fruit for home consumption in the islands of the West Indies before its culture spread to the American mainland. Grapefruit has become popular as breakfast fruit in various parts of the world, and production has expanded to most citrus-growing countries, notably the United States, Israel, Cyprus, South Africa, and Brazil. As a source of vitamin C, the grapefruit is exceeded among common fruits only by the orange and lemon.

The grapefruit tree grows to be as large and vigorous as an orange tree; a mature tree may be from 4.5 to 6 metres (15 to 20 feet) high. The foliage is very dense, with leaves dark and shiny green and nearly glabrous (without plant hairs). Flowers are large and white, borne singly or in clusters in the axils of the leaves. Most varieties are yellow when ripe. The fruit ranges from 100 to 150 mm (4 to 6 inches) in diameter, its size depending upon the variety and upon growing conditions. Its pulp is usually light yellowish, tender, and very full of juice, with a distinctive mildly acid flavour. Several varieties have pink or red pulp.

Also called: pomelo (Show more) Related Topics: pummelo tangelo fruit grapefruit juice sweet orange (Show more) See all related content

Grapefruit trees produce the best quality fruit on sandy, relatively fertile soils. Supplementary fertilization is necessary in practically all producing areas. The trees come into bearing early and may be expected to produce commercially profitable crops by the fourth to sixth year after being planted in the orchard. Mature trees may produce remarkably large crops—585 to 675 kg (1,290 to 1,490 pounds) of fruit per tree.

Britannica Quiz What’s on the Menu? Vocabulary Quiz The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello.