We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culinary

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Lemon Tree?

By Brendan McGuigan
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 8,651
Share

A lemon tree may be either the fruiting tree Citrus limon, a tree that produces somewhat tart fruits widely used throughout the world as a food and flavoring, or it may refer to the tree Backhousia citriodora, also known as a lemon myrtle. Many people find a lemon tree to be an ideal tree for both indoor and outdoor growing, as it is relatively easy to grow in a range of climates, and produces a fruit that people find enjoyable. There are different sorts of lemon tree available, but they are all generally the same, and require the same growing conditions.

The lemon tree was first cultivated thousands of years ago in China and Northern India. It made its way to Europe sometime during the 1st century, although it was not widely cultivated there for many centuries. In the 7th century the lemon tree made its way to Persia, and from there to the rest of the Middle East. By the 15th century it was in wide cultivation in Europe, and made its way to the New World with Christopher Columbus.

Over the next two centuries the lemon tree was grown more and more throughout Europe and the New World, and during the 18th century it was used in a series of experiments to try to eliminate scurvy from sailors. During this period lemons were used primarily as medicine, and the lemon tree was grown mostly as an ornamental plant with a pleasing fragrance. It wasn’t until the 19th century that the fruit of the lemon began being used more and more in cooking and food and drink preparations.

The largest grower of lemon trees is Mexico, with the New England in the United States, Spain, Italy, Turkey, India, and parts of Brazil and Argentina coming close behind. The lemon tree is also widely cultivated in Central America, the Middle East, Thailand, and parts of North Africa. Non-commercially, millions of lemon trees are also planted worldwide in people’s gardens and homes.

You can actually grow a lemon tree at home from a seed that comes from a store-bought lemon. So long as the seed hasn’t been damaged, if you germinate it, you can fairly easily grow it into its own lemon tree. If you plant it in a pot with enough room, a lemon tree will grow fine indoors, and if you get it enough heat it will even bear fruit. Many people love having a lemon tree growing inside, as they are beautiful, smell wonderful, and offer the convenience of being able to pluck a lemon for cooking without even going outside.

Ideally, rather than growing a lemon tree from a store seed, you will hunt out a variety specifically designed to be grown as a dwarf tree. The Meyer lemon tree, for example, which also produces fruit quite a bit sweeter than normal lemons, is a much smaller tree, and therefore more ideally suited for indoor cultivation. Many trees have also been grafted on to a dwarf root stock, which allows them to stay much smaller while still fully developing and bearing fruit.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By minombre — On Dec 27, 2009

I have planted a small lemon tree in a very large pot. It is sitting on a movable platform, so it can be easily moved around the patio.

It is doing very well in its second year. The fragrant flowers and the fruit are so enjoyable and so worth it.

Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-a-lemon-tree.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.