Position: Full sun
Flowering period: Spring
Soil: Moist, well drained, acidic
Eventual Height: 6m
Eventual Spread: 5m
Hardiness: 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11
Family: Rutaceae
Citrus × paradisi is a small evergreen tree with a rounded habit. Its dark green shiny leaves are oblong to elliptic with serrulate margins, up to 15cm long and 5cm broad. Its leaves emerge purple/ green. Its branches have occasional sharp spines. Its fragrant white flowers are waxy with a purple base and up to 5cm across. Its yellow fruit are spherical and up to 15cm across.
Citrus × paradisi, commonly known as the Grapefruit, was first bred in Barbados in the eighteenth century.
The etymological root of the binomial name Citrus is is from the ancient Latin name for this tree. Paradisi is named after Count Giovanni Paradisi of Modena (1760-1826).
The landscape architect may find Citrus × paradisi useful as a fragrant small evergreen tree that produces edible fruit. It can only be grown in the warmest parts of the UK.
Ecologically, Citrus × paradisi flowers are attractive to pollinating insects.
Citrus × paradisi prefers moist, sandy loam soils. It prefers an acidic pH of soil.
Citrus × paradisi requires little maintenance. This tree may be cut back severely without harming it.
Macfadyen didn’t mention Count Paradisi at all when he named the hybrid (as a species) but gave it the English name “Forbidden Fruit”.