The Grapefruit is native to the West Indies, and is an important food crop in much of the world. Grapefruit are relatively small evergreen trees, reaching heights of 30 feet or more. This tree is the least hardy of all the citrus and requires the highest, most prolonged heat for good growth.
Grapefruit is eaten for breakfast, made into juice and added to salads.
As with other members of this family, the flowers are small, white and strongly fragrant. Citrus paradisi produces large, glossy green and yellow leaves typical of the citrus family. They are alternate, with prominent oil glands. The fruit of the Grapefruit is a hesperidium, with a yellow or pinkish rind. The flesh of the fruit varies from greenish white to pink.