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Improved Meyer Lemon Tree: Growing and Care Guide
By Richard Flowers, ACCNP, Green Thumb Nursery Ventura
The Improved Meyer Lemon is a cold-hardy, nearly everbearing citrus whose fruit is milder and less acidic than a true lemon, which makes it one of the best citrus trees for Southern California yards and patios. The word “Improved” means it is a virus-free selection of the original Meyer lemon. Grow it in full sun with well-drained soil and regular feeding, either in the ground or in a large pot.
Quick answer: The Improved Meyer Lemon (Citrus x meyeri ‘Improved’) is a small, shrubby citrus thought to be a lemon crossed with an orange or mandarin, so its fruit is milder and less acidic than a true lemon. It is one of the hardier citrus, flowers and fruits nearly year-round, and its small size suits containers. Give it full sun, well-drained soil, deep but infrequent water, and regular nitrogen, and protect it from hard freezes.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Hybrid citrus (lemon crossed with orange or mandarin); milder than a true lemon |
| Mature size | About 8 to 12 feet for a standard tree; dwarf forms stay smaller |
| Sun | Full sun most of the day (at least 4 hours of direct sun) |
| Water | Deep but infrequent; well-drained soil, avoid waterlogging |
| Hardiness | One of the hardier citrus, but still frost-sensitive; protect from hard freezes |
| Harvest | Nearly year-round bloom and fruit; pick when the rind turns deep yellow-orange |
What Is an Improved Meyer Lemon?
The Meyer lemon is not a true lemon. It is believed to be a hybrid of lemon and orange parentage, and is often described as a cross between a lemon and a mandarin orange, which is why its fruit is milder, less acidic, and a richer orange-yellow than a true Eureka or Lisbon lemon.[1][2] The original tree was brought to the United States from Beijing, China, in 1908 by Frank Meyer, a plant explorer for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.[1]
So what does “Improved” mean? The original Meyer lemon introductions turned out to be symptomless carriers of the citrus tristeza virus, but the Improved Meyer lemon trees sold today are virus-free, which is exactly why they carry the “Improved” name.[1] When you buy an Improved Meyer, you are getting that clean, virus-free selection.[2]
Why Grow a Meyer Lemon in Southern California?
A few traits make the Improved Meyer a standout for our region. It is moderately vigorous and, for a citrus, notably cold hardy, on a shrubby tree that stays relatively small at maturity.[1] That said, it is still citrus, so treat it as frost-sensitive: UC Master Gardeners note established trees can take brief dips to about 20 degrees Fahrenheit, while most citrus are damaged below roughly 24 degrees, so protect young trees from hard freezes.[2][3] It also flowers intermittently through the year, with the main flush in spring and the heaviest fruit in fall and winter, so you get fruit over a long season rather than one short window.[1] Best of all, its small size makes it well suited to container culture on a patio, so you can grow one even without a yard.[2] New to citrus? See our guide to the best time to plant citrus in Southern California.
How to Grow an Improved Meyer Lemon Tree
Start with the site. Choose a spot with well-drained soil that gets full sun most of the day and some protection from strong wind; lemons want at least four hours of direct sun.[3][2] Because the tree is naturally small, it is an easy candidate for a large container, and containerized citrus can be planted at almost any time of year.[3] Water deeply but not too often: citrus need roughly four to six inches of water per month, and overwatering actually invites root and crown rot, so let the soil drain well between soakings.[3] For a patio tree, see our container tips for great fruit and vegetables, and for keeping any citrus compact, our guide to keeping fruit trees small.
Improved Meyer Lemon Tree Care
Citrus are nitrogen-hungry, so regular feeding is the main ongoing job. A mature tree needs about one pound of actual nitrogen per year, split into a few applications: a first feeding in January or February just before bloom, a second in May, and sometimes a third in June.[4] The pest you are most likely to see in Southern California is the citrus leafminer, whose larvae tunnel shallow, squiggly mines in young leaves; it now infests most of the region but rarely causes serious damage to an established backyard tree, so there is usually no need to spray a mature Meyer.[5] For a related citrus-pest overview, see our note on the citrus leafminer. Harvest when the fruit colors up to a deep yellow-orange, and do not worry if flowers and ripe fruit appear on the tree at the same time; that is normal for a Meyer.[1]
Thinking about adding one? Green Thumb Nursery carries Improved Meyer Lemon in standard and dwarf sizes. Visit any location and our certified staff will help you choose the right tree and the right pot or planting spot for your part of Southern California.
Improved Meyer Lemon FAQ
What is an Improved Meyer lemon?
It is a virus-free selection of the Meyer lemon, a hybrid citrus believed to be a cross of lemon and orange. The original Meyer carried citrus tristeza virus, so the clean “Improved” selection is what is sold today.[1]
Is a Meyer lemon a real lemon?
Not exactly. It is a hybrid of lemon and orange parentage, so the fruit is milder and less acidic than a true Eureka or Lisbon lemon, with a rounder shape and an orange-yellow rind.[2]
How big does an Improved Meyer lemon tree get?
A standard tree reaches about 8 to 12 feet tall and wide, and it is naturally shrubby and small for a citrus. Dwarf forms stay smaller, which is why Meyer is a favorite for pots.[2]
Can you grow an Improved Meyer lemon in a pot?
Yes. Its small size makes it well suited to container culture on a patio, and containerized citrus can be planted almost any time of year. Use a large pot with excellent drainage and full sun.[3]
How cold hardy is a Meyer lemon?
It is one of the hardier citrus but still frost-sensitive. UC Master Gardeners note established trees can withstand brief dips to about 20 degrees Fahrenheit, while citrus in general are damaged below roughly 24 degrees, so protect trees during hard freezes.[2]
Sources
- [1] UC Riverside Citrus Variety Collection, Improved Meyer Lemon (CRC 3737): citrusvariety.ucr.edu
- [2] UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County, Meyer Lemon: ucanr.edu
- [3] UC Statewide IPM Program, Cultural Tips for Growing Citrus: ipm.ucanr.edu
- [4] UC Statewide IPM Program, Fertilizing Citrus: ipm.ucanr.edu
- [5] UC Statewide IPM Program, Citrus Leafminer: ipm.ucanr.edu
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