What's not to like about the Meyer lemon?

 

Fruit sized to fit in the smallest palm for squeezing and slicing.

 

Juice with low acidity that's much sweeter than a Eureka lemon

 

Attractive skin, the deep rich color of an egg yolk; its zest a spicy floral flavor.

 

A favorite for lemonade, salad dressings, and lemon curd.

 

A thornless self-pollinating tree.

 

 

But best of all, a Meyer lemon tree bears fruit within two years of planting. The first year after I planted a gallon-size dwarf, I picked two lemons. The next year, five; and this winter, I counted 10. And while you wait for the white purple-tingled fragrant blossoms to emerge in late summer, enjoy the glossy dark green leaves of a tree that needs little pruning and tolerates cold better than the Eureka or Lisbon lemon trees. Simply provide well-drained soil and eight hours of sunlight.

Thriving in USDA zones 8-11, the Meyer lemon was introduced into California in 1908 by botanist and agricultural explorer Frank Meyer who is credited with finding the species growing in a pot in China. This citrus was eventually named after him. To learn more about Frank Meyer and his work with the USDA, check out http://arnoldia.arboretum.harvard.edu/pdf/articles/1984-44-3-frank-meyer-agricultural-explorer.pdf 

Note: In the 1970s, the University of California, Riverside introduced the “Improved Meyer lemon tree, which has proven more insect and disease resistant. For more information, visit these websites: