Pomelo Citrus maxima
Pomelo (Citrus maxima) is an evergreen perennial fruit plant in the Rutaceae family, native to South-east Asia. It grows 5–15 m (16–49 ft) tall and 5–8 m (16–26 ft) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about -2 °C (28 °F). Space plants about 7 m (23 ft) apart.
Plan Pomelo in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Pomelo at a glance
| Type | Perennial fruit plant, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Rutaceae |
| Mature height | 5–15 m (16–49 ft) |
| Mature spread | 5–8 m (16–26 ft) |
| Spacing | 7 m (23 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 5.5–7 |
| Cold hardiness | About -2 °C (28 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 40 °C (104 °F) |
| Flowering | from about March for 4–7 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Yes: fruit segments, candied peel |
| Native to | South-east Asia |
| Common in gardens of | 🇻🇳 Vietnam, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇨🇳 China, 🇲🇾 Malaysia, 🇮🇩 Indonesia, 🇵🇭 Philippines |
Is Pomelo toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: mildly toxic
- Dogs: mildly toxic
- Parts: peel, leaves
Like grapefruit, it can interact with some medicines (furanocoumarins); citrus oils upset pets.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Pomelo
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and moderate water.
Keep apart or take care
- caution With Sweet orange: Asian citrus psyllid spreads huanglongbing (citrus greening) between citrus and relatives such as orange jasmine (Murraya). Keep new citrus away from infected or neglected hosts. Evidence B
Questions about Pomelo
- How far apart should I plant Pomelo?
- About 7 m (23 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 5–8 m (16–26 ft).
- Does Pomelo need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Pomelo need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Pomelo?
- It tolerates about -2 °C (28 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9.
- When does Pomelo flower?
- From about March for 4–7 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Pomelo poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is mildly toxic; for dogs mildly toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Like grapefruit, it can interact with some medicines (furanocoumarins); citrus oils upset pets.
- What grows well with Pomelo?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Pomelo. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Citrus Variety Collection, University of California, Riverside
- PROSEA: Plant Resources of South-East Asia, PROSEA Foundation, Bogor
Notes and assumptions
- The largest citrus and one of the original wild species; offered at Lunar New Year and Mid-Autumn.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Lemon tree (dwarf) Citrus limon
- Curry tree Murraya koenigii
- Kaffir lime Citrus hystrix
- Common rue Ruta graveolens
- Sweet orange Citrus x sinensis
- Mandarin orange Citrus reticulata
- Persian lime Citrus x latifolia
- Key lime Citrus x aurantiifolia