The lemon tree, a highly fragrant fruit bush
Citrus x limon
- Exposures
- Sun, Half-shade
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 9a (-6.7°C ≤ T° < -3.9°C)
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Family
- Rutaceae
- Genus
- Citrus
- Species
- Lemon tree Citrus x limon
Other names:Citrus medica × Citrus aurantium, Citrus limonum, Citrus × meyeri
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 care 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 out on the surface between waterings. Water your Lemon tree with non-hard water, such as collected rainwater. To avoid water stress, make sure the water is at room temperature.
If you use a saucer or a planter, remove any standing water from the bottom. It may cause the roots to rot.
Repotting
In spring, transfer your Citrus x limon to a larger pot, so that it can continue to grow.
When roots are sticking out of the pot or 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 planter. Both materials promote water evaporation and reduce the risks associated with excessive watering. Make sure the container has drainage holes to allow water to drain.
Place a layer of clay pellets or gravel at the bottom to aid drainage.
Fill the rest with a rich substrate, such as a special citrus potting mix or general-purpose potting mix. You can make your own mix using:
- one-third potting mix;
- one-third garden soil;
- pozzolan.
Place your shrub in the center. The top of the root ball should be two centimeters below the rim of the pot. Fill in with substrate and firm it down to remove air pockets. When planting, be sure not to bury the root 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.
Planting
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
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Exposures
- SunHalf-shade
- Substrate
- Humus soil
- Planting methods
- Open groundIn potsIn tubs
- Categories
- ShrubFruit tree
- Tag
- Edible fruit
- Origins
- North AfricaSouthern Europe
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 9a (-6.7°C ≤ T° < -3.9°C)
- Leaf color
- Light green
- Flower color
- White
- Fruit color
- Yellow
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