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Lemon (Improved Meyer's Lemon)

Lemon (Improved Meyer’s Lemon)

★★★★★★★★★★ 5.0 (3 reviews)

Price range: $34.99 through $279.99

Improved Meyer Lemon is a beloved home-garden citrus known for its exceptional productivity, balanced sweet-tart flavor, and improved cold tolerance.

  • Hybrid lemon with mandarin parentage.
  • Sweeter and less acidic than true lemons.
  • Extremely productive and well suited to containers.
  • More cold tolerant than most lemon varieties.
  • Self-fertile.

Shop both locations freely. Picking up? Choose your location at checkout. Shipping? Stock location does not matter, we will handle it. Combined orders may take 3 to 7 days.

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Arrives healthy, guaranteed. Problem within 14 days? Send a photo and we replace it or credit you.
Ships in 1 to 4 business days from our nursery in Washington state, in a 36 inch box.
SKU: Lemon (Improved Meyer's Lemon) Categories: , , Tag:
What our customers say

The trees were delivered promptly and they are the biggest, best looking mail-order trees I have seen in a long time. I will be ordering more in the future.

Website customer · email

The bare roots are by far the most established roots that I have ever seen on a bareroot tree.

Website customer · email

It looks like it is at least 7 feet tall. I certainly was not expecting it to be that big.

Lisa · email

Absolutely beautiful trees, especially compared to some of the other mail order bare roots I have gotten from other companies.

Website customer · email

An extra long box for taller trees is totally worth it to me. The trees are great.

William · email

The plants look beautiful and healthy. I was impressed by the size and strength of the 3-Cherry Tree.

Jose · email

Bare root was in great condition. A lot of branching and looks ready for a harvest this year. Best fruit trees in the business!

Daniel, Lapin cherry · website review

Very nice big tree, some limbs already blooming. I've planted it and it hasn't wilted. Arrived quickly and very well packaged.

Beulah, 4 in 1 Fruit Salad · website review

They have really healthy plants, all were larger than I expected. I for sure will be ordering more from them!

Billie · website review

Arrived quickly and in great shape, larger than I had expected too.

Ralph, red currant · website review

Thank you so much for these lovely hardy kiwis. They are much bigger than expected. Will be ordering from you again.

Irene · email

Boxed perfect. Shipped on time. Excellent quality stock. About the only thing you could do to improve my experience would be to fly out to Maine and plant them for me.

Don, Maine · email

I have been buying from your nursery for years, and hands down your citrus has survived the best out of all of my sources. I have never lost a plant in my colder climate.

Returning customer · email

The packaging for those kiwis was brilliant and by far the best packaging job out of any place I ordered from this year. Your Annas are tough as nails.

Travis · email

I received my pink currant in perfect condition. I am always amazed since I live in the southeast and they are in the northwest!

Susan · website review

All 3 bushes arrived looking healthy. It's been over a month and they are still going strong.

Vlad, Rovada red currant · website review

Description

Improved Meyer Lemon is one of the most popular citrus trees for home gardeners—and for good reason. This productive, adaptable lemon offers a smoother, sweeter flavor than traditional lemons while still delivering plenty of brightness for cooking and fresh use.

Unlike true lemons, Meyer is a natural hybrid between a lemon and a mandarin. That mandarin parentage gives it softer acidity, deeper color at maturity, and noticeably better cold tolerance. Fruit can be harvested early for more tang or left to fully ripen for a sweeter, almost orange-tinted lemon.

The “Improved” Meyer is a virus-indexed selection developed to eliminate disease issues found in early Meyer introductions, resulting in healthier growth, better vigor, and more reliable performance in the garden.

Overview

  • Hybrid lemon with mandarin parentage.
  • Sweeter and less acidic than true lemons.
  • Extremely productive with extended flowering.
  • Excellent for containers and patios.
  • Self-fertile.

Growing Details

Latin Name: Citrus × meyeri ‘Improved’
Site and Soil: Full sun; well-drained soil
Rootstock: 1-gallon trees on Flying Dragon; larger sizes on C-35
Hardiness: More cold tolerant than most lemons; mature trees may tolerate brief dips into low 20’s.
Bearing Age: Often fruits immediately; grafted trees may produce in their first season
Size at Maturity:
• Flying Dragon: Typically 6–8 ft tall and wide
• C-35: Typically 10–12 ft tall and wide
Note: Trees grown in containers remain smaller and are easily maintained with pruning.
Bloom Time: Spring through fall in warm climates
Ripening Time: Extended; often nearly year-round in favorable conditions
Pollination Requirements: Self-fertile
Seed Content: Typically low-seed
Pests & Diseases: Similar to other citrus; good airflow and drainage reduce issues

Additional Notes

  • Grower’s Insight: Meyer’s mandarin parentage is what gives it both its softer flavor and its improved cold tolerance—making it one of the most forgiving lemons to grow.
  • Regional Insight: Performs well in mild-winter regions and excels in containers where winter protection is available in colder climates.

Planting & Care

At a Glance – Improved Meyer Lemon

  • Sun: 3/4 day to full day of sun
  • Soil: Well-drained soil
  • Soil pH: Performs best between 5.5–6.5
  • Water: Moderate; consistent during establishment
  • Tree Size: Compact to medium, easy to manage
  • Pollination: Self-fertile
  • Harvest: Extended; early or fully ripe
  • Hardiness: Brief dips to ~26°F once established

Planting & Care – Improved Meyer Lemon

Site Selection

  • Choose a sunny, warm location for best flavor and productivity.
  • Protected microclimates improve cold performance.
  • Good air circulation supports healthy foliage.

Soil Preparation (In-Ground vs Container)

  • In-ground: Excellent drainage is essential; raised planting is recommended in heavier soils.
  • In-ground: Slightly acidic soil (pH 5.5–6.5) improves nutrient uptake.
  • Container: Use a fast-draining citrus mix in a pot with drainage holes.
  • Container: Container growing allows easy seasonal protection.

Planting Instructions

  1. Dig a hole about twice the width of the root ball, or select a container just larger than the root mass.
  2. Set the tree so the root flare sits at or slightly above finished soil or potting mix.
  3. Backfill gently and water thoroughly.
  4. Mulch lightly for in-ground plantings, keeping mulch away from the trunk.

Watering (In-Ground vs Container)

  • In-ground, establishment: Keep soil evenly moist while roots establish.
  • In-ground, established: Deep, periodic watering encourages steady fruiting.
  • Simple check: Water when soil is dry 3–6″ below the surface.
  • Container: Water thoroughly, then allow the top couple inches of mix to dry.

Fertilizing

  • Meyer lemons are heavy feeders and reward consistent nutrition.
  • Foundation feeding: Apply slow-release citrus fertilizer in early spring and again in early summer.
  • Growth support: Supplemental liquid feeding during active growth supports flowering and fruit set.
  • Reduce feeding later in the season to help the tree harden before winter.

Cold Care

  • Meyer tolerates cooler conditions better than most lemons once established.
  • Protect during hard freezes, especially when young.
  • Container trees can be moved to a protected location during cold snaps.

Pruning & Harvest

  • Light pruning maintains shape and airflow.
  • Harvest early for brighter acidity or fully ripe for sweeter flavor.

General Tips

  • Consistent sun, drainage, and feeding unlock Meyer’s full potential.
  • One of the most rewarding citrus trees for home growers.
5.0
★★★★★★★★★★
3 reviews
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2 star0
1 star0
★★★★★★★★★★

The small lemon I bought in December is going wild behind a south-facing glass door in our garage. Every stem is producing new shoots and buds, and the first couple of flowers just opened (in mid-March). Great fun watching it grow, and hoping it will set some fruit after we get it outdoors in a month or so.

John · Mar 2023
★★★★★★★★★★

Amazing to see already ripe lemons, will be back again for blackberries & oranges definitely!

Talina · Dec 2019
★★★★★★★★★★

We bought our Lemon tree in June. It already had lemons growing on it. At this time we have a few lemons that are close to harvesting, with 4 or more getting close. If they’re anything like the Limes we got from the Lime tree they’ll be perfect. Our oranges are about the size of large grapes. These trees are a lot of fun to watch grow.

Diane E. · Nov 2018

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