Plant Finder

   

tree

Ponderosa Lemon

Citrus 'Ponderosa'

Add To My Wish List

 
Ponderosa Lemon (Citrus 'Ponderosa') at Countryside Flower Shop & Nursery

Ponderosa Lemon fruit

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  20 feet

Spread:  15 feet

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade 

Hardiness Zone:  9a

Other Names:  Citrus limon x medica

Description:

Attractive foliage is displayed on this small tree; large, fragrant flowers produce bumpy, yellow fruit that are twice the size of typical lemons, and have great flavor; protect from frost; great container plant for the patio

Edible Qualities

Ponderosa Lemon is a small tree that is typically grown for its edible qualities. It produces yellow fruit which are usually ready for picking from late winter to early spring. The fruits have a tangy taste.

The fruit are most often used in the following ways:

  • Fresh Eating
  • Cooking
  • Juice-Making
  • Sauces

Features & Attributes

Ponderosa Lemon features showy clusters of fragrant white star-shaped flowers with buttery yellow eyes at the ends of the branches from early spring to late winter. It has attractive dark green evergreen foliage. The glossy oval leaves are highly ornamental and remain dark green throughout the winter. It features an abundance of magnificent yellow berries from early spring to late winter.

This is a multi-stemmed evergreen tree with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition. This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting birds, bees and butterflies to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Aside from its primary use as an edible, Ponderosa Lemon is sutiable for the following landscape applications;

  • Accent
  • Hedges/Screening
  • Orchard/Edible Landscaping
  • Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Ponderosa Lemon will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 2 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more.

This plant is typically grown in a designated edibles garden. It does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.

Ponderosa Lemon is a good choice for the edible garden, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Its large size and upright habit of growth lend it for use as a solitary accent, or in a composition surrounded by smaller plants around the base and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden. Be aware that in our climate, this plant may be too tender to survive the winter if left outdoors in a container. Contact our experts for more information on how to protect it over the winter months.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Accent  Screening  Orchard  Container 
Applications
Flowers  Fruit  Foliage Color  Attracts Wildlife 
Ornamental Features

Click to access the login or register cheese

Subscribe

Sign up for our e-newsletter for gardening tips and special offers

By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Countryside Flower Shop, 5301 E Terra Cotta Ave, Route 176, 1/2 Mile West of Route 31, Crystal Lake, IL, 60014, US, https://www.countrysideflowershop.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact.