True grapefruit not suited to NZ

I read recently that the grapefruit available in New Zealand, is not a true grapefruit, but rather a mix of other citrus. What is the difference?

Bob Fullerton, a plant pathologist with Plant and Food Research, responded:

The fruit commonly known as New Zealand grapefruit is also known as poorman’s orange.

It apparently originated in Asia and was taken to Australia in the early 1800s and brought to New Zealand by George Grey and established on Kawau Island.

In about 1861, he gave propagation material to John Morrison of Warkworth, after which the most common clone, ‘‘Morrison’’ (Morrison seedless), is named. It will set seeds if there is a pollination source nearby. It is thought to be a natural hybrid between a pomelo and a mandarin, which would make it a type of tangelo. It was once widely grown commercially in New Zealand.

In about 1935 another grapefruit, the Wheeny, was introduced to New Zealand from Australia, where it originated as a chance seedling. Most of the grapefruit grown now are probably Wheeny. It also is thought to be a pomelo hybrid.

True grapefruit have a high heat requirement and do not do well in New Zealand. Poorman’s and Wheeny both have a much lower heat requirement, hence their popularity as high yielders in household gardens in Auckland.

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