Yellow lemons on a branch

Credit: Peggy_Marco

White flowers lemon green leaves

Credit: Niepokój Zbigniew

Lemon tree with fruit in a garden

Credit: Tomwsulcer

Lemon green lanceolate leaves

Credit: Davidals

The lemon tree, a highly fragrant fruit bush

Although the lemon tree is a household name, its origins remain a mystery. Classified in the Rutaceae family, alongside Citrus x paradisi and Citrus x clementina, the species is thought to have originated in Southeast Asia or the Mediterranean. Its birth is thought to be the result of the natural hybridization of the sour orange and citron trees. Grown in Corsica and the Menton region for its fruit, Citrus x limon is now inviting its citrus fragrance onto balconies and gardens.

How to recognize the Citrus x limon lemon tree?

The lemon tree is a small tree or large shrub. When fully grown and planted in the ground, it is an upright tree three to six meters high. In pots, it resembles a bush with a short trunk and will not exceed three meters.

The lemon tree's foliage consists of glossy green leaves that don't fall off in winter. Alternate and lanceolate, they measure from six to eleven centimeters. Be careful when picking them, so you can breathe in their fragrance! They have a spiny stipule at their base.

Lemon blossoms also give off a citrus scent. They appear in clusters between April and June. Each bud opens to reveal five white, waxy petals. If you're lucky, your lemon will flower several times a year. You'll be able to enjoy both flowers and fruit at the same time.

Lemons are easy to recognize: oblong, they measure between eight and twelve centimetres in length. Green when young, they then take on their characteristic yellow color. The fruits of Citrus x limon grow all year round, but you have to wait until they are fully ripe before you can harvest and eat them.

Their flesh and juice are used in cooking, as a condiment, a drink or a sweet. It is also a preservative used in cosmetics. Finally, some people value it for its medicinal virtues. Anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiseptic, it is a natural remedy for many ailments.

Our maintenance tips

Maintaining a Citrus x limon is not difficult. Above all, you need to protect it from frost in winter and provide it with the nutrients it needs to grow. With the right potting soil and regular fertilizing, you'll soon be enjoying your own citrus fruits.

Lemon trees citrus trees need regular watering all year round. During hot spells, water early in the morning or in the evening. Water evaporates less quickly, and your shrub benefits from it for longer.

Watering

Let the soil dry on the surface between two applications of water. Water your Lemon tree with non-calcareous water, such as reclaimed rainwater. To avoid water stress, make sure the water is at room temperature.

If you use a saucer or planter, remove any water that stagnates at the bottom. It could rot the roots.

Repotting

In spring, transfer your Citrus x limon to a larger pot, so that it can continue to grow.

When roots protrude from the pot or are visible on the surface, it's time to repot!

To prepare your Citrus x limon for repotting, soak the root ball. Then gently loosen the root ball.

Choose a terracotta pot or a wooden tub. Both materials encourage water evaporation and reduce the risk of over-watering. Make sure the container is perforated to allow water to drain away.

At the bottom, place a bed of clay balls or gravel to facilitate drainage.

Top up with a rich substrate, such as special citrus or planting soil. You can make your own mixture with :

one-third planting soil
one-third garden soil
pozzolan.

Place your shrub in the center. The surface of the rootball should be two centimetres below the rim of the pot. Fill with substrate and tamp to eliminate air bubbles. When planting, do not bury the collar.

Fertilization

You can stimulate the development of your plant during its growth phase, in spring and summer, with fertilizer.

Lemon trees are greedy plants. They need to be fertilized. Feed yours with a special liquid or granulated citrus fertilizer.

Cleaning

The dust that accumulates on the leaves interferes with photosynthesis and slows down your plant's development. To allow it to take advantage of the light, clean the top and bottom of the foliage with a clean, damp cloth.

Don't use any polish, as it will damage the limbs.

Harvest

Pick the fruit from the tree when it's ripe.

Prune

Size is not essential. It only helps to control shape and development and improves fruiting. When pruning, always use clean, sharp pruning shears.

Citrus trees flower and fruit on the year's wood. To maintain the compact, rounded shape of your shrub, remove dead branches and shoots growing along the trunk. You can also aerate the center by removing some shoots that have already borne fruit in previous years.

If you want to improve your harvest, you can also carry out a fruiting pruning operation: one month after the appearance of a new shoot, prune it back to a height of 20 centimetres.

Pinch

Pinch your Citrus x limon during its growing season.

Pinch stem ends to encourage branching and help your plant maintain a dense habit.

Plantation

Once the last spring frosts have passed, you can plant.

Find them a place sheltered from the wind and isolated from other plants. Citrus plants have shallow roots and don't like to share their space.

Dig a hole 70 centimetres wide and 1 metre in diameter. While you're at it, soak the root ball.

Plant the plant in the middle, with the top of the rootball level with the ground. Take care not to bury the collar.

Lemon trees plants thrive in light, well-drained, rich soil. When filling in, add potting soil or citrus soil to your garden soil. Tamp and water.

Diseases / Threats

Information

Family	Rutaceae - Rutaceae
Type	Citrus - Citrus
Species	Lemon tree - Citrus x limon
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Evergreen
Exposures	Sun Half-shade
Substrat	Humus soil
Planting methods	Open ground In pots In tubs
Categories	Shrub Fruit tree
Tag	Edible fruit
Origins	North Africa Southern Europe
Hardiness (USDA)	9a
Leaf color
Flower color
Fruit color