Description

Why grow a Meyer lemon tree?

A favorite of home gardeners and chefs, the improved Meyer lemon tree adapts beautifully to life as a dwarf citrus tree—perfect for growing in containers indoors or out. In temperate climates, it can be planted in the ground and enjoyed as a vibrant backyard lemon tree.

This is the perfect plant to accent your patio or porch—with the bonus of fresh, sweet lemons! Enjoy attractive green leaves, fragrant white blossoms, and citrus-scented flowers, followed by juicy, floral fruit. These lemons are prized for baking desserts, enhancing savory dishes, and mixing into fantastic cocktails. Homesteaders will enjoy preserving the abundance. These lovely citrus trees may even bloom again while fruit is still ripening, allowing for continuous or near year-round harvesting.

What is the fruit like?

Meyer lemons are a hybrid between traditional lemons and mandarin oranges. They’re much sweeter and less acidic than regular lemons—making them ideal for those who prefer a mild, sweet citrus flavor.

The skin is thin, smooth, and ripens to a rich, golden yellow—like the color of an egg yolk. Fruits are smaller and more rounded than standard lemons, with dark yellow pulp. Meyer lemons are also rich in vitamin C, folate, and powerful antioxidants like flavanones..

How do I grow this tree?

Whether grown in the ground or as a potted lemon tree, Meyer lemons are both beautiful and easy to maintain. In the ground, trees may reach up to 10 feet tall. In containers, growth is naturally limited—making them an excellent choice for balconies, patios, or sunrooms.

Pruning helps keep the plant compact and encourages a fuller shape. This is a self-pollinating citrus tree, so outdoor plants will produce fruit naturally. Indoor trees can be hand-pollinated using a soft paintbrush to transfer pollen between blooms.

Meyer lemon trees thrive in moist, but well-draining soil. Allow the soil to dry slightly between deep waterings. A moderately to slightly acidic pH is ideal. Regular feeding with a citrus-specific, high-nitrogen fertilizer during spring and summer helps support fruiting. With proper care, your first harvest can arrive within just 1–2 years.

These citrus trees need at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. In hot climates, morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal. They are heat-tolerant, but not cold-hardy, so in Zones below 8, bring container trees indoors before the first freeze. Meyer lemon trees are more disease-resistant than other varieties, making them a reliable and rewarding choice for any gardener.

Why They’re Hard to Find in Stores

Meyer lemons are rarely found in grocery stores due to their thin skins and short shelf life—making them a true treat for home growers. Their unique flavor and fragrance set them apart from standard lemons.

Bring Home the Best Lemon Tree for Containers

Buy a Meyer Lemon Tree online and enjoy this beautiful, compact citrus plant that rewards you with sweet, homegrown lemons right from your own patio, sunroom, or backyard.

Survival Guaranteed!

Since 1816, Stark Bro’s has promised to provide customers with the very best fruit trees and plants. It’s just that simple. If your trees or plants do not survive, please let us know within one year of delivery. We will send you a free one-time replacement, with a nominal shipping fee of $9.99. If the item in question is not available, we can issue a one-time credit to your account equaling the original product purchase price or issue you a refund. Read more about our warranty policy.

Characteristics

Bloom Color White
Fruit Color Yellow
Fruit Size Small - Medium
Hardiness Zone Range 2 - 11, Outdoor Planting: 8 - 11
Pollination Self-Pollinating
Shade/Sun Full Sun
Soil Composition Loamy
Soil Moisture Well Drained - Average Moistness
Soil pH Level 5.5 - 6.5
Taste Sweet, Tart
Texture Firm, Juicy
Years to Bear 1 - 2

Size & Spacing

Mature Size

When your tree matures, it will be approximately 8 - 10' tall x 3 - 5' wide.

Recommended Spacing

We recommend spacing these trees 8 - 10' apart to ensure room for growth.

Zone Compatibility

This Variety's Zone Range 2 - 11 Outdoors: 8 - 11
My Hardiness Zone ?
The USDA hardiness zones offer a guide to varieties that will grow well in certain climates. Each zone corresponds to the minimum winter temperatures experienced in a given area. Make sure that your hardiness zone lies within the zone compatibility range of this variety before ordering.
This item can be grown in colder climates if it's planted in a container and brought indoors during the winter months. If you're planting it outdoors in the ground, we recommend being within the outdoor zone range.

Pollination

This variety is self pollinating.

In many cases, you may still want to plant pollinating partners to increase the size of your crops, but with self-pollinating varieties doing so is optional. You'll get fruit with only one plant!

Related Assortments

Available in these money-saving assortments

We bundle many of our popular products in assortments with other items that compliment each other. Plus, when you purchase an assortment, you save money compared to buying each item individually!

Tools & Supplies

Having the proper tools and supplies when growing your own can make the difference between a good harvest and a great harvest! Here's a list that our experts recommend for this variety.

Planting & Care

Learn all about how to grow citrus trees in The Growing Guide. An entire section of our website dedicated to your growing success.

Shipping Information

Arrives when it's time to plant

Your success is our priority. We work hard to make sure that your order arrives at the ideal time for planting in your location based on your local climate conditions.

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Questions & Answers

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455 Questions
Why did you choose this?

I love lemons, and I have the perfect place for this little tree in my sunroom.

Because my wife wanted it and she is the boss!

Love stark bros and they sell quality! Have bought from them in the past and am beyond satisfied!

I love them.

i need to grow this meyer lemon plant indoors..In my kitchen.... Is this possible?

Absolutely, it is. I have provided a detailed answer of exactly how to do it in another post. These are wonderful little trees and they will survive the winter indoors.

I want this as indoor plant, says it is incompatible for my area, does this mean for indoor too?

You absolutely CAN grow this product indoors. The reason you were advised that the product was incompatible for your area is because citrus trees - such as this lemon tree - cannot survive freezing. Accordingly, they are restricted to climates where the temperature does not dip below the freezing mark. By contrast, virtually no one ever allows his indoor temps to dip that low, hence the tree will survive indoors during the winter - you may move it outdoors in the summer. Be careful near windows - sometimes the temp just adjacent to the window gets quite cold esp if you lower your heat at night or when you go away for the weekend. Be sure to push your tree back from the window if you set your thermostat very low at night. I lost a fig tree by being careless about this practice. Citrus trees are wonderful indoor trees in the winter when everything is so dreary outside. Be sure you keep increasing the pot size as your tree grows. Put it on a small appliance dolly so you can wheel it onto the porch in the summer or else wheel it away from the window if you go away for a winter vacation.

I see one of the staff suggested a 28 inch pot for this Meyer lemon tree. Is that 28 inches in diameter? I've had trouble finding one that big. What is the smallest size that would work? Also, does it live it's whole life in one size pot, or would I need to change the pot size over the years? Thank you!!

This excellent article will answer your questions and provide good advice. Please see "Growing Fruit Trees in Containers" //www.starkbros.com/growing-guide/article/fruit-trees-in-containers-pt1

Can I plant this tree inside in a pot? Will it do well by growing inside? I live in Colorado

I bought my meyer lemon about this time last year, and have planted it in a pot about the same size as the one in the picture. I keep it in a very sunny, south facing window (I live in NY) and water it once a week. So far, my lemon tree is doing quite well. It has two small lemons on it. Initially, my lemon tree lost some leaves, but that was probably due to the stress of shipping. I haven't noticed any new growth though. I might transplant it into a bigger pot to see if that helps it.

will I get lemons first year?

I have had lots of blossoms and have 3 tiny lemons growing now.
The plant is lovely, waiting for warm weather to put it outside where it will
get lots more sun.

Does an indoor tree need to be pollinated?

I believe you're supposed to brush the pollen from flower to flower. Self-pollinating means you don't need a second plant, but if you don't have pollinators (e.g., bees) to do the actual pollinating, you'll have to do it yourself.

I live in zone 8a but have a greenhouse. Could this be grown inside my greenhouse?

Yes as long as it’s heated. I set my lemon trees outside in the summer and before it gets cold I put mine in my greenhouse and keep the temperature around 45-48 degrees in the winter. Right now where I live the temperature is in the teens but my lemon trees are doing good.

Can these be grown indoors?

These do well growing year round as long as you winter them inside, preferably in a window that gets lots of sun. I keep mine in pots (5 gallon buckets) and have them outside in the Missouri summer. Make sure they are watered well, mainly the mid section of the dirt where roots are. In the winter they will still flourish and bloom if kept watered and in a sunny fairly warm area. Even with the sub freezing weather this year (2018) mine have lots of blooms and hopefully lots of lemons this summer. Lemons are delicious.

can this tree thrive indoors?

It can survive indoors with care, but might not produce as well as outdoors. It needs a lot f sunlight and warmth indoors. It also helps if you can put it outside during the summer for additional sunlight. but being careful it does not get too much water when it's outside. We live in Zone 7a and put ours outside all summer and it's now doing fine indoors for the winter. We have also been in a warmer zone where we had a Meyer Lemon that was outdoors year-round. We have found that the citrus trees we've had that we can't keep outdoors all year round, due to the weather, do not produce as much fruit, if any. This is normal and expected. That being said, the Meyer Lemon is a great tree, even indoors, and if properly cared for, will be a joy to own. We do recommend it. Hope this helps.

How long does it take for the green fruit to ripen?   Mine put on its first lemon inside in March, and it's large enough, but still green.   It's lately putting on lots more, and is looking happy on my patio.   Bought the plant last year about this time.

I also have had my lemon tree for about a year. I have a lot of green lemons a little bigger than a golf ball and they have been that size for about 2 months. If yours does get to ripen let me know.

Customer Reviews

525 Ratings
4.0out of 5 stars
525 Ratings

Rated 5 stars by 59% of reviewers

Rated 4 stars by 11% of reviewers

Rated 3 stars by 11% of reviewers

Rated 2 stars by 6% of reviewers

Rated 1 star by 13% of reviewers

1-10 of 525 Reviews
Rated 5 out of 5
May 4, 2025
It's a lemon tree for real!
This is really a lemon tree. It is healthy and just gorgeous.
Rated 5 out of 5
May 2, 2025
Small but Strong
Small but is producing healthy leaves. I brought it inside over Winter and kept it by my office window. Leaves stayed healthy and dark green all Winter long and I moved it out to the greenhouse once it was warm enough.
Rated 5 out of 5
Apr 17, 2025
5 Stars - Thrilled with My Meyer Lemon Tree!
I recently purchased a Meyer lemon tree from StarkBros.com, and I couldn't be happier! The tree arrived in excellent condition-healthy, vibrant, and well-packaged. You can tell they really care about their plants and how they ship them.

Within just a few days of being planted, the tree adjusted beautifully and is already showing new growth. The leaves are lush and green, and I'm beyond excited to eventually see (and taste!) those delicious sweet-tart lemons. It's the perfect addition to my garden.

Highly recommend Stark Bros for anyone looking for quality fruit trees.
Rated 5 out of 5
Mar 28, 2025
Olin's 1st Meyer
Have grown in large pot in My Lawrenceville Ga for 2 years. Bring inside during winter and keep in bay window. 6 lemons this season that are great!
Rated 5 out of 5
Mar 20, 2025
Nice potted as well
In zone 7 b, so mine is potted and brought indoors in cold weather. First-year, spring, many highly scented flowers, then two big perfect lemons. Peels made wonderful DIY lemoncello.
Rated 5 out of 5
Mar 1, 2025
Nice plant
Very well packaged beautiful foliage was not expecting to get a lemon in the first year that I got plant but apparently itvloves the indoors!
Rated 5 out of 5
Feb 22, 2025
my tree
Love it it is dueing weii has flowers need to know how to stike it so it branchs
Rated 5 out of 5
Feb 3, 2025
Meyer lemon
So far it seems to be flourishing. Hopefully the care I give it will cause it to thrive in the future ??
Rated 5 out of 5
Jan 28, 2025
Still stunted growth due to a cold winter but looks healthy for spring growth
Rated 5 out of 5
Jan 27, 2025
Health and Happy Lemon Tree
Surprisingly healthy after transportation. This tree is growing very well indoors, facing a South Window.