Rio Red grapefruit
Also known as: Rio Star (with Star Ruby)
The deep-red Texas grapefruit, marketed as Rio Star, with intense flesh color and reliable cropping; the Rio Grande Valley signature.
Across the consideration criteria
How it grows
- Cold hardiness
- 26°F
- Ripening
- Early-season
- Vigor
- Moderate-Vigorous
- Disease tolerance
- Moderate
- Drainage need
- Well
- Soil pH
- 6–7.5
- Graft requirement
- Graft Required
- US availability
- Available
Considerations
Canopy killed at about 26°F.
Needs high heat to colour and sweeten.
Early-season fruit (Nov-Apr).
moderate-vigorous
Prefers a pH band of 6–7.5.
These are intrinsic to the citrus. On a real property, Folia scores each against your site; here they're shown on their own.
Grows alike
similar to growRuby Red grapefruit
ripens in the same window · wants the same heat to ripen
Chandler pummelo
ripens in the same window · wants the same heat to ripen
Reinking pummelo
ripens in the same window · wants the same heat to ripen
Oroblanco (Oro Blanco)
ripens in the same window · wants the same heat to ripen
Melogold
ripens in the same window · wants the same heat to ripen
Hirado Buntan pummelo
wants the same heat to ripen · shares its cold-hardiness class
Climate-adapted alternatives
more resilient picksRuby Red grapefruit
similar cold hardiness · similar heat requirement
Chandler pummelo
similar cold hardiness · similar heat requirement
Reinking pummelo
similar cold hardiness · similar heat requirement
Oroblanco (Oro Blanco)
similar cold hardiness · ripens in a similar season
Melogold
similar cold hardiness · ripens in a similar season
Hirado Buntan pummelo
similar cold hardiness · similar heat requirement
Could Rio Red grapefruit grow on your land?
See how Rio Red grapefruit scores against your specific property, with local precedent, climate, and the tradeoffs for your ground.
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