Whether you eat grapefruit for breakfast or turn to it for a refreshing snack, this bittersweet-tasting citrus fruit is a staple in many American households. It belongs to the Rutaceae family, known for their edible fruit and aromatic leaves. (1) The grapefruit goes by the scientific name of Citrus paradisi.

Grapefruit, like other citrus fruits, grows on trees. They tend to grow in more tropical climates, as the trees grow better in sandy soil. The trees themselves can grow up to 20 feet tall and have dark green leaves. The actual fruit looks nothing like a grape: It has a yellow rind with pulp that may be yellow, a very light pink, or a darker, deeper red. Each cluster on the tree produces more than 12 to 20 grapefruits at a time.

Grapefruit trees are now grown across the United States, but the modern grapefruit we know today is thought to have evolved from a hybrid version from Jamaica. It was popularized in the West Indies before making its way to the U.S. (1,2) It’s thought that the first commercialized grapefruit in the U.S. was grown in Florida after enjoying a brief status as a novelty plant. (2) Today, it can be found in other subtropical climates, including Texas, Arizona, and California.