Species · genus Citrus · Rutaceae

Pummelo

Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr.

Also known as: Shaddock · Pomelo

Growth habit

tree

Native range

Assam, Cambodia, East Himalaya, Laos, Myanmar, Nicobar Is., Thailand, Vietnam

Citrus maxima — reference photo — no rights reserved · CC0

Cultivars of C. maxima

The named forms growers keep — each with its own page, each honest about how much we know.

No named cultivars catalogued under C. maxima yet. When growers document a stable, named form, it earns its own page here.

Guide

The species-level account. Cultivar pages build on this and say where they differ.

The Pummelo, Introduced

Citrus maxima, known also as pomelo, pomelo, or shaddock, is an evergreen shrub grown for its glossy foliage, fragrant flowers, and notably large fruit. It belongs to the citrus family and is grown both as an ornamental and a fruiting plant in cooler climates.

Source: RHS

A Southeast Asian Native

This plant's natural range lies in Southeast Asia. In the cooler UK climate it is treated as tender, best kept under glass, and is classed at hardiness rating H2, meaning it tolerates low temperatures but cannot survive a frost.

Source: RHS

A Greenhouse Rhythm

This one is best grown in a container of peat-free, loam-based compost with added grit, kept in full light but shaded from the hottest sun, and given a sheltered, south- or west-facing spot. Through spring and summer, while it is in active growth, water freely and mist daily, feeding with a citrus fertiliser year-round. In winter, ease off and water sparingly, keeping it under glass, then move it outdoors for the summer months.

Source: RHS

Cuttings, Layers, or Seed

Propagation can be done by semi-ripe cuttings taken in summer, or by layering in early spring. Seed can also be sown, kept at a temperature of 16°C in spring.

Source: RHS

Glossy Leaves, Heavy Fruit

This is a bushy evergreen shrub reaching up to 4 metres, with glossy oval leaves to 10cm long. Its white flowers, up to 4cm across, are fragrant and can appear at any time of year. The fruit that follows is the plant's real distinction: large, green, flattened-spherical to slightly pear-shaped, and capable of weighing as much as 2kg.

Source: RHS

Scale, Mealybug, Spider Mite

This plant may draw scale insects, mealybugs, and glasshouse red spider mite. Otherwise it is generally free of disease.

Source: RHS

Light Pruning Only

This shrub falls under pruning group one, meaning it needs only light, formative pruning rather than hard cutting back.

Source: RHS

Care recipe

The species record — the baseline every cultivar inherits unless it says otherwise.

Care notes are early — not yet verified

Light: ai:claude-opus-4-8
Water: ai:claude-opus-4-8 (range 5-10d)
Humidity: ai:claude-opus-4-8
Soil: ai:claude-fable-5
Care: ai:claude-fable-5

Light

Direct sun

Water

≈ every 10 days

Humidity

Medium

Temperature

15–30 °C

Soil mix

Rich, well-draining loamy citrus mix

Propagation

Seed, cuttings, or grafting

Fertilizing

Regular citrus feed every 4-6 weeks in the growing season

Growth rate

Moderate

Flowering

Large fragrant white flowers; the biggest citrus fruit indoors is rare

ToxicityAuthoritative · species

Toxic to cats & dogs

Citrus — essential oils + psoralens; vomiting, diarrhoea, photosensitivity, dermatitis. This is where toxicity lives: every cultivar of this species inherits it and none can override it.

Reference images

Every image credited. Licenses link to their deeds.

Sources: ai:claude-opus-4-8 · ai:claude-opus-4-8 (range 5-10d) · ai:claude-fable-5 · ASPCA

Kept true by its growers

Every fact here carries its source. Grow Pummelo yourself? What you’ve observed — how it drinks, how it holds its color, a name that’s off — and a clear photo of your plant are exactly what keep this page honest. Contributions are reviewed before anything changes.