Meyer lemon

Sun

Full sun; aim for at least 6-8 hours of direct light outdoors. Give overwintering plants the brightest available position.

Water

Water deeply, then let the soil surface begin to dry before watering again. Containers need more frequent checks in warm weather and much less water in cool winter conditions.

Soil

Fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic soil, ideally pH 5.5-6.5. For containers, use a free-draining citrus potting mix and a pot with unobstructed drainage holes.

Height

6-10 ft (1.8-3 m); usually smaller in containers

Spread

4-8 ft (1.2-2.4 m)

Flowers

White flowers, often pink or purple in bud, mainly in spring with repeat flowering possible throughout the year in warm conditions.

Foliage

Evergreen. Glossy, dark green, oval leaves with a citrus scent when crushed; branches may have thorns.

Growth

Moderate

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen
• Fragrant
• Edible

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Hard

Toughness

Needs looking after

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   7 ft (2 m)

2. After 1 year

   7 ft (2 m)

3. After 2 years

   7 ft (2 m)

4. After 3 years

   7 ft (2.1 m)

5. After 5 years

   7 ft (2.1 m)

About 20 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Growth rate

Moderate

• Plant with the root flare at soil level and keep any graft union above the soil.
• Water the root zone thoroughly without leaving the pot standing in water.
• Apply a citrus fertiliser with trace elements during active growth, following the label; avoid heavy feeding in winter.
• Mulch outdoor trees, leaving a clear gap around the trunk.
• Move container plants into bright, frost-free shelter before frost; acclimatise them gradually when returning them outdoors.
• If an indoor tree flowers without visiting insects, transfer pollen between flowers with a soft brush.

Pruning. Prune lightly after the main harvest and once frost risk has passed, removing dead, crossing or crowded shoots. Remove shoots arising below the graft union whenever they appear, and avoid hard pruning because it delays cropping.

Pick fruit when fully yellow to golden yellow, fragrant and slightly yielding; the main harvest is often autumn through spring, but timing varies with climate. Snip fruit off with secateurs rather than pulling, and taste one if colour alone is inconclusive. A healthy grafted nursery tree commonly gives its first worthwhile crop about 2-3 years after planting, although small or stressed container plants take longer.

Early spring

Check roots and drainage; repot container plants if root-bound and begin feeding as growth resumes.

Spring

After frost risk passes, gradually acclimatise sheltered plants to outdoor sun and wind.

Late spring

Prune lightly after the main harvest where local cropping patterns allow; remove rootstock shoots.

Summer

Check container moisture frequently, feed as directed and inspect leaf undersides for pests.

Autumn

Harvest ripe fruit and prepare bright, frost-free shelter before cold weather arrives.

Winter

Keep sheltered trees bright and away from heaters; reduce watering without letting the root ball dry out completely.

• Grow in a large container beside a sunny patio or doorway where the flower scent can be enjoyed.
• Use as a small specimen tree in a sheltered courtyard, with space to reach the fruit.
• Include in an edible border with low herbs and flowers kept clear of the trunk.
• Train against a sunny, sheltered wall in a reliably mild climate to save space and display the fruit.

Garden styles it suits: Mediterranean, Modern courtyard, Potager (kitchen garden), Edible landscape, Small-space and Sensory garden.

Plant it with: Basil, Parsley, Chives, Sweet alyssum and Nasturtiums.

Wildlife: The fragrant flowers attract bees and other pollinating insects. One tree can fruit on its own because it is self-fertile, although insect visits help pollination.

• Scale insects: inspect stems and leaf undersides for bumps and sticky honeydew; wipe off small infestations or apply a labelled horticultural oil, avoiding hot sun and heat-stressed plants.
• Spider mites: fine stippling and webbing are common under dry indoor conditions; rinse leaf undersides regularly and use a labelled insecticidal soap if needed.
• Root rot: yellowing, leaf drop and dieback can follow prolonged wet soil; improve drainage, empty saucers and let the surface begin to dry between waterings.
• Citrus greening disease: uneven blotchy yellow leaves, misshapen fruit and progressive decline need prompt advice from local plant-health authorities in affected regions, including parts of the southern United States. There is no cure;

Leaves, peel and essential oils contain compounds toxic to cats, dogs and horses; ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhoea or skin irritation. Ripe fruit flesh and juice are edible for people, and the washed peel is used in cooking, but concentrated citrus oil can irritate skin and should not be swallowed.

• Ordinary lemon (Citrus × limon)

  Typical lemons have more elongated fruit with a pronounced pointed tip, thicker peel and sharper juice; Meyer fruit is rounder, thinner-skinned and often deeper yellow.

• Calamondin (Citrus × microcarpa)

  Produces much smaller, round fruit that ripens orange, with very sour flesh and relatively sweet peel.

• Sweet orange (Citrus × sinensis)

  Usually has larger, orange-ripening fruit with thicker peel and sweet flesh; leaf stalks often have small wings, though fruit is the more useful distinction.

The names commemorate Frank N. Meyer, the plant explorer who introduced this citrus from China to the United States in 1908.

Propagation. Usually propagated by budding or grafting onto suitable citrus rootstocks; semi-ripe cuttings can also root with warmth and humidity. Seedlings may differ from the parent and take many years to fruit.

Accepted botanical name

Citrus limon Citrus × meyeri is an older name for Citrus limon.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.