World of Citrus Logo

World of Citrus

Foster Grapefruit

Foster Grapefruit

OfficialSelection of Walters Grapefruit
Add varieties that you like or find fascinating to your favorites.
Add varieties you'd like to get to your wishlist.
Add varieties that you own and grow to your collection.
Add varieties to watch for new comments and changes.

Have this variety? Add it to your collection or wishlist!

Notes

Fruit medium-large, oblate to spherical; basal furrows short, radiating; areolar ring indistinct; very seedy. Primary color pale to light yellow, but under favorable conditions rind blushed with pink, extending into the albedo. Rind medium-thick and surface smooth. Primary flesh color chamois, but under favorable conditions pink; flesh texture tender and juicy; flavor good. Medium-early in maturity. Tree vigorous, large, and productive. This variety originated as a limb sport in a tree of the Walters variety in an orchard near Ellenton, Florida, and was discovered in 1907 by R. B. Foster of nearby Manatee. It was introduced in 1914 by the Royal Palms Nurseries, Oneco. Foster is of horticultural interest primarily because it is the first pigmented grapefruit variety of record in Florida. As such, it attracted considerable attention and was planted to a limited extent both in Florida and Texas. With the advent of the seedless pink-fleshed Thompson variety only ten years later, however, interest in Foster declined abruptly and it has not been planted for many years. Another reason for horticultural interest in this variety is the fact that in Texas it gave rise by bud mutation to the seedless pink-fleshed variety, Foster Seedless, which closely resembles Thompson but exhibits somewhat better flesh coloration. Nucellar seedlings of Foster also possess more intense pigmentation than the parent clone.

Origin

Ellenton, Florida

1907·R.B. Foster

Submitted by

Brady Mitchell@cascadiaadmin
Colwood, British Columbia, Canada
Submitted on: February 3, 2026