The Meyer lemon (Citrus × meyeri) is a popular citrus choice, known for being a natural hybrid cross between a true lemon and a mandarin orange. This genetic blend gives the fruit a less acidic, slightly sweeter flavor than standard lemons. Understanding the tree’s mature size is important, as its dimensions determine suitability for an outdoor orchard, a small backyard, or a movable container. The final size depends almost entirely on the growing environment and the specific rootstock used during grafting. Growers must decide early whether they are aiming for a full-sized backyard tree or a manageable ornamental specimen.
Mature Size Potential in Ground
When planted directly into the ground in an optimal, warm climate, a Meyer lemon tree can achieve its maximum size. The final height is heavily influenced by the rootstock onto which the variety is grafted. A standard-sized Meyer lemon tree, which is less common in the nursery trade, can grow 10 to 15 feet tall, with a canopy spread nearly as wide.
More commonly available are dwarf or semi-dwarf varieties, grafted onto specific rootstocks designed to restrict upward growth. An Improved Meyer lemon on a dwarfing rootstock will mature at a height between 6 and 10 feet when left unpruned. These semi-dwarf trees generally maintain a compact, bushy habit, with an average canopy spread of 3 to 4 feet. The genetic dwarfing mechanism limits the overall vigor and size, but the tree still requires adequate space to thrive.
Limiting Growth Through Container Cultivation
For many home gardeners, the primary method of controlling the Meyer lemon’s size is through root restriction in a container. When cultivated in a pot, the tree’s overall growth rate and mature height are significantly reduced compared to planting in the open ground. This technique allows the Meyer lemon, which is naturally smaller than most other citrus varieties, to be suited for patio or indoor growing.
A Meyer lemon tree is often started in a 5 to 7-gallon container, which sustains a young tree for a few seasons. As the tree matures, gradually increasing the pot size to a 10 or 15-gallon container allows for continued healthy growth while limiting the final size. In these common container sizes, a mature tree will stabilize its height, often reaching between 4 and 7 feet tall, making it easily manageable and movable.
To maintain a manageable size indefinitely, the tree requires periodic maintenance beyond simple repotting. Every two to three years, instead of moving the tree to a larger container, the gardener must perform root pruning. This process involves removing the tree from its pot, trimming the outer, circling roots, and then replanting it back into the same container with fresh soil. This practice refreshes the root system while keeping the tree’s dimensions constrained by the container’s volume.
Pruning Techniques for Size Control
Beyond the passive size limitation of a container, active pruning is necessary to shape the Meyer lemon and keep it at a desired height and width. Pruning should be performed immediately after the main harvest period to avoid removing developing fruit and to stimulate new growth. This timing is typically in late winter or early spring, just before the new flush of growth begins.
To manage the height, growers use heading cuts, which involve clipping the end of a branch back to a bud or a lateral branch. This action encourages the tree to branch out horizontally, promoting a denser, more compact structure. Conversely, thinning cuts remove entire branches back to the main trunk or a larger branch, which helps open the canopy for better air circulation and light penetration.
Regular removal of long, wispy shoots, often called “water sprouts,” directs the tree’s energy into stronger, fruit-bearing wood. Avoid removing more than one-third of the tree’s canopy in a single pruning session to prevent excessive stress. A combination of these cuts allows the gardener to maintain the tree at a convenient size, whether it is a 4-foot indoor specimen or a 10-foot backyard tree.