What Kind of Lemon Trees Are There?

Lemon trees (Citrus limon) are small, heat-loving citrus trees bearing fragrant white flowers and sour, aromatic yellow fruit. These trees are cultivated in warmer climates both for their ornamental value and their multifarious culinary and domestic uses. When selecting a lemon tree for cultivation at home, it is essential to identify the variety which best suits your purposes.

Eureka
One of the most widely grown lemon varieties for commercial cultivation, particularly in California, is the Eureka lemon. This medium-sized tree bears abundant clusters of oblong, bright yellow fruit with aromatic, oily peels and juicy, extra-tart fruit. Eureka lemons produce fruit year-round, their most productive seasons being late winter and early spring. The tree itself is nearly thornless and very cold sensitive. This variety originated from a seed taken from an Italian lemon and cultivated in Los Angeles, California, in the mid 19th century. It was propagated by nurseryman Thomas Garey, who christened it Garey's Eureka in honor of his own horticultural genius.

Lisbon
Another beloved variety of lemon tree is the Lisbon lemon. Unlike the Eureka lemon, this tree is large and riddled with thorns. The leaves of this tree provide a protective canopy for its fruits. Fruit is produced primarily in February and May. One strength of the Lisbon lemon lies in its resistance to cold, wind and excess heat. Its sour golden fruits are almost indistinguishable from those of the Eureka variety. Lisbon lemons were developed in Portugal. They were imported to Australia in 1824, reaching sunny California in 1849.

Ponderosa
The Ponderosa lemon, also known as Wonder or American Wonder, is a small, attractive, round-topped tree often grown in containers as an ornamental plant. Its flowers, which emerge year-round, are tinged with purple color. This lemon originated in Italy. It is not a true lemon, but in fact a hybrid between a lemon and another type of sour citrus known as a citron. The result is a large, rounded fruit with thick, bumpy skin and a strong lemon flavor.

Meyer
Like the Ponderosa lemon, the Meyer lemon is not a true lemon. It is a hybrid between a lemon and a mandarin orange. Originating in China, this fruit was originally cultivated as an ornamental. In the early 20th century, Frank Meyer brought this tree back to the United States. Today Meyer lemons are prized by cooks for their sweet flavor. Their juice is ideal for lemonade and baked desserts. The fruit of the Meyer lemon is medium-sized, slightly round and deep golden in color. Its peel is very thin, making it difficult to transport in crates. Meyer lemons produce fruit from December to April. Although rarely grown commercially, they are frequently cultivated for home use in Florida, Texas and California as well as Australia and New Zealand.

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Information About Lemon Trees

Botanist recognize the lemon tree by its proper name Citrus limon but even the humble home gardener can appreciate them. This thorny tree grows on average between 10 to 20 feet tall. It is cultivated all over the world and is used for culinary and medicinal purposes, among others. It is widely believed that the lemon tree came from the Middle East originally but was transported to Spain during the Middle Ages.

Parts and Descriptions
The lemon tree does not have a lot of foliage. The leaves are elliptical shaped and can be light or dark green. Along the stems of the plant there are thorns that can hurt if grabbed without thought. Each of its flowers have five petals, five sepals, several stamens and one pistil. The flower tops are mainly white with a bit of pink on the bottom. The flowers exude a soft, lemony scent. The fruit of the lemon is yellow and has an elliptical shape. The bottom of the lemon has a nipple called an apex. The fruit's exterior has leathery rind. The fruit of the lemon tree is sour.
The tree should be planted in fertile soil and needs fertilization frequently to produce fruits in copious amounts. Ideally, these trees are planted in an orchard about 15 to 25 feet apart. Planting trees too close together will hamper fruit production. This tree produces fruit year round, as long as the climate conditions are conducive to growth. A fully mature lemon tree can produce anywhere between one thousand and two thousand fruits each year.

Varieties
In the United States, popular varieties of the lemon tree are the Eureka, the Lisobon, the Belair, the Genoa, Villafranca and the Sicily. There are three main areas of lemon production in the United States and those are Arizona, Florida and the largest, California. A popular miniature variety of lemon tree is called the Meyer Lemon. This tree grows only about four feet tall and can be cultivated as an indoor or porch plant. It produces smaller lemons.

Pests
Like any tree with an attractive scent, the lemon tree has its enemies. Some species of ants in Asia like burrowing into the roots of the tree. The pests are eliminated with smoke treatments. Arthropods are the natural enemy in the United States. These bugs have to be treated with pesticides.

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