Ray Ruby Grapefruit Tree

Ray Ruby is a red-fleshed grapefruit selection grown for fresh fruit and juice. Like other grapefruit, it needs a warm, sunny site and protection from frost to grow outdoors successfully. ## Selection and size The [Givaudan Citrus Variety Collection at UC Riverside](https://citrusvariety.ucr.edu/crc3915) catalogs Ray Ruby as Citrus paradisi and records it as a grapefruit selection received from Texas extension; its California collection season is February through June. [Texas A&M AgriLife](https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/fruit-nut/fact-sheets/citrus/table-1-common-texas-citrus-varieties/) includes Ray Ruby/Henderson among common Texas varieties and notes their large tree size. The exact [Ray Ruby profile at The Sill](https://www.thesill.com/products/ray-ruby-grapefruit-tree) gives 12–15 feet high and 8–10 feet wide; those ranges fit the size labels shown here. ## Siting and fruit Plant outdoors in USDA zones 9–11, in full sun and freely draining soil. The [Ray Ruby listing at Everglades Farm](https://everglades.farm/products/ray-ruby-grape-fruit-tree-grafted) gives the same outdoor zone range and notes that fruit colors deeply red. Grapefruit is vulnerable to cold, so use a sheltered position and cover during frost events. Trees can also be grown in containers and moved to a protected bright space in colder weather. ## Maintenance Water deeply during establishment and dry spells, allowing drainage between watering. Feed with a citrus fertilizer as directed on its label. Remove dead or damaged branches and prune lightly after harvest or to maintain a manageable canopy.