Flame grapefruit

Citrus paradisi Macfadyen

CRC 3993

PI 539487

VI 470

Photos by Toni Siebert (left and middle) and David Karp (right), CVC, 5/22/2008. Photo rights. Both trees on Carrizo, 17 year old trees.

Source: Received as budwood from the Winterhaven, Florida, via the Budwood Registration Program, 1988.

Parentage/origins: Flame grapefruit is reported to be from seed of a sport of Ruby Red grapefruit originating in the Houston, Texas grove of C. Henderson.  C. J. Hearn made the final selection, and Flame was released as a new variety in 1987. 

Rootstocks of accession: Carrizo citrange

Season of ripeness at Riverside: February to June

Notes and observations:

12/1989, DG: Vigorous trees. Fruit size is better than Star Ruby with flesh color about the same as Star Ruby. Probably not as cold sensitive as Star Ruby. Shows herbicide sensitivity. 

OJB:  Flame trees grow vigorously to a large size and are reported to be more cold-tolerant than Star Ruby. The fruit has a smooth yellow rind and usually has a pink blush.  The flesh is tender and juicy and has an internal color almost as dark as Star Ruby.  Flame’s season is mid to late-season; the fruit holds well on the tree with some fading of the internal color when held past maturity.

Availability: Commercially available in California throught the Citrus Clonal Protection Program.

USDA Germplasm Resources Information Network page for Flame grapefruit

CVC Fruit Quality Data for Flame grapefruit