Lemon Meyers Bush
Sale
Original price
$49.00
Original price
$49.00
-
Original price
$99.00
Original price
$49.00
Current price
$29.00
$29.00
-
$59.00
Current price
$29.00
Meyer Lemon Bush (Citrus × meyeri) Growing and Care Guide
- Taste of the Fruit: The Meyer Lemon is prized for its uniquely sweet, fragrant, and low-acid flavor that sets it apart from standard lemons. The thin, smooth, golden-yellow to bright orange-yellow skin releases a floral, aromatic essential oil scent, while the juicy flesh offers a delightful blend of mild tartness, sweetness, and complex notes reminiscent of orange and mandarin. This makes the fruit exceptionally versatile and enjoyable for fresh eating, zesting, juicing, baking, cocktails, and preserves; many describe it as far less puckering and more dessert-like than true lemons.
- Botanical Name and Common Names: The botanical name is Citrus × meyeri (a hybrid between a lemon and a mandarin orange). Common names include Meyer Lemon, Meyer’s Lemon, Chinese Lemon, and Improved Meyer Lemon (referring to the virus-free selection most commonly sold today).
- Average Height and Growth Rate: When maintained as a bush (typically on semi-dwarf or dwarfing rootstock and regularly pruned), a Meyer Lemon Bush reaches an average height of 6–10 feet tall and wide, though unpruned specimens can grow 12–15 feet. The growth rate is vigorous and fast, especially in warm weather, allowing young grafted plants to establish quickly and often begin producing fruit within 1–2 years of planting.
- Best Growing Environment and Sun Requirements: Meyer Lemon Bushes thrive in warm subtropical and mild Mediterranean climates with well-draining, slightly acidic soil (pH 6.0–7.0) enriched with organic matter. They require full sun with at least 6–8 hours (ideally 8–10 hours) of direct sunlight daily for abundant flowering, fruit production, and best flavor; good air circulation helps prevent disease, and protection from strong winds is beneficial.
- USDA Zone and Cold Hardiness: The Meyer Lemon Bush is recommended for USDA Hardiness Zones 8–11. It is the most cold-hardy true citrus commonly grown, tolerating brief exposure to temperatures as low as 20–25F with protection (fruit is more sensitive than the tree itself). In cooler areas, it performs exceptionally well in large containers that can be moved indoors or to a sheltered spot during freezes.
- Water Requirements: These trees prefer deep, infrequent watering to encourage strong root development while keeping the soil consistently moist but never soggy—excellent drainage is essential to prevent root rot. Young or container-grown bushes may need watering 2–3 times per week in hot, dry conditions, while established in-ground plants generally require thorough deep watering every 7–14 days during the growing season; reduce frequency in cooler months, allowing the top 1–2 inches of soil to dry slightly between waterings.
- Planting Guide: Plant Meyer Lemon Bushes in spring after the last frost risk has passed (or in fall in warmer zones) in a sunny, well-drained location. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper, backfilling with native soil amended for drainage or a quality citrus potting mix in containers of at least 15–25 gallons with multiple drainage holes. Space in-ground bushes 8–10 feet apart; apply a 2–4 inch layer of organic mulch around the base (kept several inches away from the trunk) to conserve moisture, moderate soil temperature, and suppress weeds.
- Fertilizing Times of Year with Specific Recommended Fertilizer: Fertilize Meyer Lemon Bushes three times per year during the active growing season—typically in late winter/early spring (February, before bloom), late spring (May), and early summer (June)—to support continuous flowering and fruiting without stimulating tender growth vulnerable to cold. Use a balanced citrus-specific fertilizer such as a slow-release 6-4-6, 8-3-9, or 7-4-4 formula enriched with micronutrients including magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, and calcium; apply at label rates based on tree size, water deeply afterward, and avoid fertilizing from late fall through mid-winter.