Pummelo (Citrus maxima)
Discover Citrus maxima, the Pummelo, prized for its huge sweet citrus fruit. An evergreen tree ideal for zones 9-11.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Pummelo, scientifically known as Citrus maxima, is a highly valued broadleaf evergreen celebrated globally for producing some of the largest known citrus fruits. This magnificent specimen offers both aesthetic appeal through its fragrant blossoms and substantial edible returns, distinguishing it among subtropical landscape trees. Gardeners in appropriate climates prize its low maintenance requirements paired with its dramatic visual impact.
Citrus maxima thrives best in warm tropical and subtropical regions, typically requiring temperatures above freezing to ensure survival long-term. As a parent species to the modern grapefruit, the Pummelo offers a sweeter counterpoint to its sour relative, making it a prized addition to home orchards or ornamental landscapes where space allows for its substantial size.
Cultivating Citrus maxima provides year-round deep green foliage, coupled with seasonal bursts of showy, white, fragrant flowers. Beyond its utility as a shade or flowering tree, the sheer size of its fruit—often weighing several pounds—makes the Pummelo an immediate landscape attention-getter anywhere it is successfully established.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Rutaceae
- Plant Type: Broadleaf evergreen
- Native Range: Polynesia
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 9-11
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 15-20 ft
- Spread: 12-18 ft
- Bloom Time: Seasonal bloomer
- Bloom Description: White
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Planting Pummelo trees should occur after the last risk of frost, ideally in the late winter or early spring in USDA Zones 9-11. This citrus tree requires sandy, well-drained soils to perform optimally; avoid planting in areas where water pools, as it cannot tolerate wet, poorly drained conditions. While Citrus maxima can handle light shade, best flowering and fruiting performance occurs when the tree receives full, unfiltered sunlight throughout the day.
Consistent, regular watering is vital, particularly when the tree is young or during dry spells, although mature trees are reasonably drought-tolerant once established. Fertilization should follow standard citrus guidelines, typically involving balanced nutrients applied during the growing season. Pruning, when necessary, should focus on removing crossing or damaged limbs to maintain an open canopy structure suitable for its rounded crown.
Though ideally suited for tropical zones, the Pummelo can tolerate temperatures momentarily dipping to 32°F. However, serious damage or death occurs if temperatures drop closer to 26°F, so protection or supplemental heating may be necessary in the northern edges of Zone 9 or in protected 8b microclimates. Remember that while species plants can be grown from seed, named cultivars should always be propagated via grafting for true-to-type fruiting characteristics.
Landscape Uses
The Pummelo excels as a superb specimen tree, offering both vast shade potential and masses of fragrant white summer blooms. It functions beautifully as a large background planting, providing evergreen structure against fences or property lines where its eventual 15 to 20-foot height is beneficial. In regions like California and Florida, where commercial production is limited, Citrus maxima is heavily favored purely for its ornamental value and the sheer spectacle of its massive fruit.
For a dramatic focal point, place the Pummelo where its large, pear-shaped, thick-rinded fruit can be easily viewed when the tree is covered in its display. While it is a substantial tree, it pairs well with smaller, shade-tolerant tropical understory plants below its canopy, provided drainage remains excellent. Its impressive size and unique fruit maximize its use as an edible landscape feature in warm-climate gardens.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
- Fragrant
Fruit Qualities
- Showy
- Edible
Noteworthy Characteristics
Citrus maxima, commonly called pummelo, is a parent of the grapefruit (C. Sinensis x C. Maxima). The fruit of this tree is huge, typically growing to 6-9” (less frequently to 12”) in diameter and weighing 2-4 pounds, although massive specimens can reach 15 pounds. The taste is sweet, reminiscent of grapefruit but without the sour bite, containing edible flesh that can be white, yellow, or pink.
Tolerances
Potential Problems
The Pummelo generally exhibits resilience against major horticultural issues. Gardeners rarely encounter serious insect or disease problems specific to Citrus maxima when cultural requirements, especially excellent drainage and full sun exposure, are met. Monitoring for common citrus pests like scale or aphids is still prudent, but severe infestations are uncommon, contributing to its low maintenance rating.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Pummelo suitable for?
The Pummelo is hardy in USDA Zones 9 through 11, though it can sometimes survive in protected locations as far north as Zone 8b.
How large does Pummelo grow?
Mature Citrus maxima typically reaches a height between 15 and 20 feet with a spread ranging from 12 to 18 feet, although it can grow much taller under perfect conditions.
What sun exposure does Pummelo need?
This tree requires full sun for the best performance in terms of blooming and fruiting; it can tolerate light shade but will not perform as well.
When does Pummelo bloom?
Citrus maxima is characterized as a seasonal bloomer, producing white flowers that may appear up to four times per year in ideal subtropical settings.
Conclusion
The Pummelo (Citrus maxima) offers subtropical gardeners a low-maintenance, ornamental tree that rewards cultivation with exceptionally large, sweet citrus fruit. Its showy, fragrant blossoms enhance its value when used as a shade or accent tree within USDA Zones 9-11. Before planting, ensure your site provides the necessary full sun and excellent drainage vital for the long-term success of your Citrus maxima.
Companion Planting
When integrating Citrus maxima into your landscape, consider companions that share its preference for bright light and excellent drainage. Low-growing Mediterranean herbs like Rosemary or Thyme thrive beneath the canopy without competing heavily for water, provided roots are not densely packed. In edible gardens, pairing the Pummelo with tropical fruits that tolerate similar pH ranges, such as certain varieties of Passionfruit growing up nearby structures, can create a lush, productive subtropical effect.
Propagation Tips
While gardeners can successfully grow ornamental Citrus maxima from seed, be aware that seed-grown trees may take many years to reach maturity and produce fruit, and the resulting fruit quality can be unpredictable. For reliable fruit with known characteristics, propagation via grafting is strongly recommended. Graft desired cultivars onto proven, hardy rootstocks suited to your local soil type to ensure faster fruiting and optimal disease resistance for your Pummelo tree.
