Lemon trees can flower and fruit at the same time, filling the air with sweet citrus fragrance while ripening lemons hang just above the newest blossoms.
Believed to originate in Northeast India and Southeast Asia, lemon trees are among the most popular citrus for home growers, and compact varieties like Meyer lemon fruit reliably even in a large container, making it possible to grow one on a sunny patio well outside the tree's natural warm-climate range.
Lemon trees want as much full sun as possible and well-draining, slightly acidic soil, and they're notably more cold-sensitive than most other fruit trees, needing protection or indoor shelter below freezing. Container-grown lemons make it possible to grow one anywhere by moving the pot indoors before frost.
Meyer lemon, a common home-garden variety, is actually a naturally occurring cross between a true lemon and a mandarin orange, giving its fruit a slightly sweeter, less acidic flavor than a standard grocery-store lemon.
