Ruby Red Grapefruit Tree (Age: 2 - 3 Years Height: 2 - 3 FT)
The Ruby Red Grapefruit tree with botanical name Citrus × Paradise, is from an evergreen citrus tree from the Citrus genus in the family Rutaceae. Although its origin is a little bit obscure, the variety may have been a horticultural accident or meticulous hybridization. Research shows that this Grapefruit is a hybrid of pummelo (Citrus grandis) and the sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) and was named thus due to the grape-like clusters in which fruit grows on trees. This Grapefruit tree first arrived in the state of Florida in 1823 but did not gain popularity due to its acidity and difficulty to peel. Some planted the citrus tree and sold or gave away the produce as a novelty fruit. It was only in 1929 when the most celebrated mutation in the history of citrus fruit was discovered in an orchard in Texas that the fruit gained its popularity. Growing on a pink grapefruit tree was a mutated red grapefruit, which became the Ruby Red Grapefruit tree variety – the first of its kind to get U.S. patent. The Ruby Red Grapefruit Tree is usually grown to 16-20 ft tall to ensure large fruit size and easy fruit picking, although when left alone it can grow as high as 40-50ft. This citrus tree has shiny, green foliage that covers the tree from top to bottom and produces fragrant, white four-petal flowers. The Ruby Red Grapefruits are round, baseball sized fruit with a pale lemon color tinged with pink blush. The flesh of the fruit is sweet, juicy and brightly red. Ruby Red Grapefruit is a rich source of vitamin C and vitamin A, potassium, fiber, beta-carotene, lycopene that gives it its distinct red color and is a powerful antioxidant.