How to Grow Grapefruit in New Zealand

Updated September 2026

A citrus for the warm north, and a warm wall further south

Illustration of a grapefruit tree with large yellow fruit

Grapefruit need a long, warm season for the fruit to sweeten, which puts them among the more demanding citrus in New Zealand. The good news is that the backyard favourite here, NZ grapefruit, is hardier and sweeter than a true grapefruit, and it hangs on the tree for months once ripe.

A grapefruit tree grows 4 to 6 metres tall, or less on dwarfing rootstock, and a single tree gives a household plenty of fruit for breakfast and juice.

Where Grapefruit Grow in New Zealand

Grapefruit are worth growing only in a handful of regions. They do best in frost free coastal Northland and Auckland, where you can plant from September to November. In Waikato and the Bay of Plenty they are marginal: plant only on the Bay of Plenty coast, in October or November after the frosts, in a warm, sheltered spot. In Wellington and the lower North Island, and in Nelson and Marlborough, they are also marginal. Choose NZ grapefruit, the hardiest type, and plant it against a warm, sunny wall out of the wind in October or November.

The rest of the country is not suited. The Central North Island is too cold for grapefruit to ripen. In Canterbury summers are too short and frosts too hard, so a Meyer lemon is the better bet. Otago and Southland are too cold, and hard frosts rule out grapefruit in Central Otago. Choose your region below for local planting months.

Your region

Varieties to Look For

NZ Grapefruit (Golden Special)

The traditional New Zealand grapefruit. Not a true grapefruit but a hybrid, with a thick yellow skin and sweeter, less bitter flesh. The hardiest choice and the one to plant outside the far north.

Wheeny

A true grapefruit type that crops heavily, with juicy, sharp fruit. Tends to crop heavily one year and lightly the next.

Star Ruby

A red fleshed grapefruit. It needs plenty of summer heat to colour and sweeten, so it is only worth trying in the warmest northern gardens.

Planting

Plant container grown trees in spring once the frosts are over. Grapefruit want full sun, shelter from wind, and deep, free draining soil with a pH of about 6 to 7.5.

Allow about 5 metres between trees, or less for a tree on dwarfing rootstock.
In marginal areas, plant against a north facing wall or fence, where reflected warmth helps the fruit ripen.
Plant at the depth of the pot with the graft union above the soil, water in well, and mulch, keeping mulch clear of the trunk.
Dwarf grapefruit grow in a pot at least 50 centimetres wide. See our guide to growing citrus in pots.

Care and Pollination

Pollination. Grapefruit are self fertile, so a single tree fruits on its own. Bees visit the flowers in spring.

Watering. Water deeply and regularly, especially from flowering through summer. Irregular watering leads to split fruit and fruit drop.

Feeding. Feed four times a year with a complete citrus fertiliser, in August, November, January and April, the same schedule as oranges. See our orange growing guide for more on citrus care.

Frost. Cover young trees with frost cloth on cold nights for their first few winters. See our guide to protecting your garden from frost.

Pruning. Prune lightly after harvest and after the frosts, removing dead wood, crossing branches and shoots from below the graft.

Pests and Diseases

Scale: Brown or white bumps on stems and leaves, often with black sooty mould growing on the sticky honeydew. Spray with horticultural oil.
Aphids and mealybug: Cluster on soft new growth. Horticultural oil or a firm jet of water deals with light infestations.
Citrus leaf miner: Silvery trails in new leaves, which then curl. Spray new flushes of growth with horticultural oil.
Guava moth: The fruit pest that matters most in the warmer parts of the country. The caterpillar tunnels into developing fruit, citrus included. Use pheromone traps to tell when the moth is active, and bin fallen fruit sealed rather than composting it.
Lemon tree borer: A native beetle whose larvae tunnel inside branches, leaving small holes and sawdust. Cut out and burn dead or wilting twigs below the damage.
Collar rot: Oozing, cracked bark at the base of the trunk in wet soil. Keep mulch well clear of the trunk and plant only where water drains away.

For more detail, see our pest management guide.

Harvest and Storage

Grapefruit take many months to ripen. NZ grapefruit colours in winter but is sharpest early, and the flavour sweetens the longer it hangs, through spring and into summer. The fruit holds on the tree for months, so taste one before picking the crop and harvest as you need it.

Cut fruit off with a short stalk. Picked grapefruit keep for 2 to 3 weeks in the fridge.

Track Your Grapefruit Tree

Add grapefruit to your garden in the Planting Season app and get reminders for feeding, frost cover and harvest.

Open the App →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I grow grapefruit in Canterbury?

Grapefruit are not suited to Canterbury. Summers are too short and frosts too hard for the fruit to ripen. A Meyer lemon is the better citrus there.

What is NZ grapefruit?

NZ grapefruit, also sold as Golden Special, is the traditional New Zealand backyard grapefruit. It is a hybrid rather than a true grapefruit, sweeter and less bitter, and it is the hardiest type to grow here.

When is grapefruit ripe?

NZ grapefruit colours in winter but keeps sweetening on the tree through spring and into summer. Taste a fruit before picking and harvest as you need it.

Does grapefruit interact with medicines?

Grapefruit can interact with some medicines. If you take regular medication, check with your doctor or pharmacist before eating grapefruit or drinking the juice.