Sanbokan Grapefruit
A rare and especially unique citrus from Japan, the Sanbokan grapefruit is a difficult one to classify. It peels like a mandarin, has skin like a grapefruit but with a pronounced nipple, and the flavor is certainly sour and bitter but also richly sweet. It’s been described as a cross between a grapefruit and a blood orange in regards to its flavor and like many citrus from Japan it has a fighting chance of being cold hardy in ground here in the Pacific Northwest! Unknown parentage and rarely found, but we’re excited to try it!
Click here to view our Citrus Growing Guide.
Latin Name: Citrus hybrid
Site and Soil: In spring, summer and fall, keep your potted Citrus in a location with 1/2 day to full sun. In the winter, place your plant in a well-lit room. Potting soil should be coarse, acidic, and well-drained.
Rootstock Description: Flying Dragon is a hardy and very dwarfing rootstock for Citrus that induces very early flowering and fruit procuction. Trees grown on Flying Dragon will rarely exceed 5 ft. in height and will often produce fruit the year they are planted.
Pollination Requirements: Self-fertile. You can help it set fruit by taking a small brush and moving pollen from flower to flower.
Hardiness: Hardy to at least 25°F. We recommend bringing Sanbokan Grapefruit to a well-lit and protected location in late fall before hard frosts occur.
Bearing Age: 1-2 years after planting
Size at Maturity: 6-8 ft.
Taste: Sour, bitter, with hint of rich sweetness.
Fruit Skin: Yellow-orange
Fruit Flesh: Yellow-orange
Bloom Time: Winter and spring
Ripening Time: Winter to early spring.
Yield: 20+ fruit
Care: Fertilize with citrus mix 3-4 times per year with typical applications in late winter (Jan-Feb), late spring (May-June) and early fall (Sept-Oct).
Pests & Diseases: While outside, Citrus plants will likely not be bothered by insect pests. Be on the lookout for slugs. Indoors, Citrus can have mites and/or aphids. Watch carefully for any problems and treat with an insecticidal soap or wash them off. We have not seen any disease problems on our Citrus plants.
USDA Zone: 9, possibly 8