The Meyer lemon tree, Citrus × meyeri, is a popular choice for home gardeners due to its compact size and prolific nature. This citrus variety is a natural hybrid of a lemon and likely a mandarin orange, resulting in fruit with a sweeter, less acidic flavor than common lemons. Its unique genetic makeup results in distinct blooming habits that differ significantly from standard lemon trees. Understanding the Meyer lemon’s flowering cycle is key to maximizing fruit production.
The Primary Seasonal Bloom
The most substantial flowering period for the Meyer lemon tree occurs in late winter and early spring. This main bloom often begins in January and can last through March, preceding the main harvest later in the year. This burst of floral activity is responsible for setting the majority of the year’s main crop.
The blossoms are small, five-petaled, and white, though the buds often show a slight purplish-lavender tinge. The flowers are highly fragrant, possessing an intensely sweet scent. This seasonal bloom is the most predictable flowering event, producing the largest volume of potential fruit.
Factors Enabling Year-Round Flowering
Meyer lemon trees are described as “ever-bearing” because they can flower and fruit sporadically throughout the year, a trait inherited from their mandarin parentage. Outside of the main spring event, smaller flushes of blooms can appear in summer and fall. This continuous cycle allows the tree to simultaneously hold flowers, small green fruit, and fully ripe fruit.
Consistent warmth and high light availability enable this extended flowering. Citrus trees require at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily to encourage blooming and fruit set. Providing steady, optimal conditions allows the plant to produce secondary blooms and offer a steady supply of fruit across all seasons, especially for container-grown trees brought indoors for winter.
From Flower to Fruit Set
Once the flowers open, the process of turning them into harvestable lemons begins with pollination. Meyer lemons are self-pollinating, meaning a single tree can produce fruit without needing a second variety. When grown outdoors, natural pollinators like bees handle the transfer of pollen.
For trees kept indoors, especially during the winter bloom, hand-pollination is necessary for successful fruit set. This involves gently transferring pollen between flowers using a small brush or cotton swab. The time required for a tiny, newly set fruit to grow into a mature Meyer lemon typically takes six to nine months. Providing adequate water and a balanced, nitrogen-rich citrus fertilizer during this development phase helps prevent the tree from dropping the fruit.