Citrus made easy for growers, nurseries, and distributors

Grapefruit trees are best suited for USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11. These zones provide the warm temperatures and mild winters that grapefruit trees need to thrive. If your zone doesn’t have hot summers, choose lower acid selections like Oroblanco or Melogold. Here's a breakdown:

• Zone 9 (20°F to 30°F / -6.7°C to -1.1°C): Grapefruit trees can survive here but may need protection from occasional frost, especially when young.
  

• Zone 10 (30°F to 40°F / -1.1°C to 4.4°C): Ideal growing conditions. Trees generally do not require frost protection.
  

• Zone 11 (40°F and above / 4.4°C and above): Excellent for grapefruit trees. No risk of freezing temperatures.

Absent of serious diseases like HLB, grapefruit trees can produce for decades. It is important to avoid overwatering, as that can damage the root system and shorten the tree’s life considerably.

In the northern hemisphere, the best time to plant grapefruit trees commercially is from spring to early summer (April through June).

Visiting the various pages under the Trees for Sale link will help you understand more about each selection. Additional information can be found on the UC Riverside Citrus Varieties page.

One backyard favorite is the Melogold, which produces large, juicy fruit over a long harvest season of November to May. They taste good even when the outside is still green. A classic red grapefruit is the Star Ruby, which has the darkest internal color and best flavor of the red grapefruit.

At TreeSource, we can generally ship year-round. However, we avoid shipping during the coldest months of the year when trees may be damaged by frigid temperatures while in transit.