Description
Santa Teresa Lemon is a traditional Italian variety prized for its productivity and consistency. Part of the historic Femminello lemon group, it is valued for its ability to flower multiple times per year, supporting steady fruit set rather than a single short harvest window.
The fruit delivers classic lemon intensity—bright, sharply acidic, and well suited to juice, zest, cooking, and preserving. Compared to more aggressive growers like Lisbon, Santa Teresa maintains a more balanced structure, making it easier to manage in both in-ground plantings and containers.
Overview
- Italian lemon from the productive Femminello lineage.
- Repeat-flowering habit supports extended harvests.
- Classic high-acid lemon flavor.
- Moderate, well-branched growth habit.
- Self-fertile.
Growing Details
Latin Name: Citrus limon ‘Santa Teresa’
Site and Soil: Full sun; well-drained soil
Rootstock: 1-gallon trees on Flying Dragon; larger sizes on C-35
Hardiness: Typical of true lemons; mature trees may tolerate brief dips to approximately 28–30°F with protection
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: Multiple flushes from spring through fall in warm climates
Ripening Time: Fall through winter, with extended harvests in mild regions
Pollination Requirements: Self-fertile
Seed Content: Typically seeded
Pests & Diseases: Similar to other citrus; benefits from good airflow and drainage
Additional Notes
- Grower’s Insight: Santa Teresa’s repeat flowering comes from its Femminello lineage—a trait long prized in Mediterranean lemon production.
- Regional Insight: Performs best in mild-winter regions and adapts well to container culture where winter protection is available.
