Meyer Lemon Bush vs. Tree: Is There a Difference?

You’re missing out on a home gardener’s favorite if you’ve never heard of a Meyer lemon. Meyer lemons are a thin-skinned hybrid fruit that is partially a lemon and partially a mandarin orange, making them significantly sweeter than the typical grocery store lemon.

Meyer lemons aren’t grown for commercial purposes, so you can’t buy them when you go grocery shopping. Consider purchasing your own Meyer lemon bush if you wish to sample these tart-sweet fruits. But what about Meyer lemon trees? Are there any differences between Meyer lemon trees and bushes? In this article, we’ll break down all of the misconceptions and mysteries involving the Meyer lemon, as well as how to grow your very own plant.

Comparing Meyer Lemon Bush vs. Tree

Key Differences Between Meyer Lemon Bush vs. Tree:

You might believe that every shrub that produces the citrus fruit lemon is simply referred to as “bush lemons.” But you would be mistaken. A bush lemon is a substantial plant with thick evergreen foliage and dense branches. Typically, most lemon species are classified as trees. However, some lemon types, like the Meyer lemon, are dwarf varieties that resemble shrubs.

To put it simply, Meyer lemon plants are considered bushes or shrubs, rather than trees, though the differences are marginal. The terms Meyer lemon bush and Meyer lemon tree refer to the same plant, but it is actually a bush. Just as well, a particularly healthy Meyer lemon bush might grow larger than expected or might be pruned to resemble a tree. Regardless, the Meyer lemon plant is still considered a bush or shrub, rather than a tree in most cases.

Classification

The Meyer lemon plant is classified as citrus × meyeri. It is a member of the rutaceae family, and it is related to plants like oranges, limes, kumquats, and grapefruit. The Meyer lemon is considered a hybrid plant that is a crossbreed of the traditional lemon and the orange (or mandarin).

Description

The Meyer lemon bush (sometimes called the Meyer lemon tree) is a citrus-bearing plant that originated in China but is grown worldwide today. Meyer lemon shrubs only reach heights of 5 to 7 feet, though particularly hardy Meyer lemons can reach heights of 6 to 10 feet and appear much more tree-like.

A Meyer lemon bush will grow smaller if it is grown in a garden pot. Meyer lemon plants have fragrant white and purple blooms and lustrous, dark green leaves. Meyer lemons’ skins develop an egg-yolk-like color when they are fully ripe, which is a light shade of yellow with a hint of orange. The fragrant skins of Meyer lemons are a favorite of chefs.

Uses

One of our most popular citrus plants is the Meyer lemon shrub, which grows beautifully in pots and produces fruit that is really useful in the kitchen without producing a large quantity. Meyer lemons can be used in place of normal lemons in most recipes, but because of their sweet flavor, they pair particularly well with baked products and sweets. Making lemon curd, chutney, cocktails, fruit-based salads, lemonade, and baked fish dishes are all excellent uses for Meyer lemons.

Additionally, Meyer lemon plants are frequently utilized in landscaping. A Meyer lemon plant can be encouraged to develop into a tiny “tree” or become a huge bush. This hybrid lemon makes a wonderful patio tree or can even be used in a courtyard. By allowing it to develop into a huge shrub, landscapers can use it as an improvised privacy hedge. Like other citrus trees, Meyer lemon trees make attractive container plants and can be carried indoors for the winter in colder locations.

Origin

Chinese culture gave rise to the Meyer lemon bush. The Meyer lemon plant is typically planted as a decorative plant in garden pots in China. The Meyer lemon tree probably existed for hundreds or even thousands of years before it was discovered and introduced to the United States, but history has forgotten its precise ancestry.

The American agricultural pioneer Frank Nicholas Meyer, who worked for the Department of Agriculture in the U.S., brought this tree to the United States. He collected a sample of this plant in Peking in 1908 while traveling through China, where he discovered the Meyer lemon being grown in pots as home ornamental plants. The Meyer lemon plant quickly became well-known in areas of the United States where citrus was produced, but sadly, it also ended up acting as an asymptomatic carrier of the Citrus Tristeza virus that was harmful to other citrus plants, which led to the eradication of many of them in the years that followed.

Chefs on the west coast of the United States rediscovered the Meyer lemon during the California Cuisine revolution of the 1970s through the 1990s and began utilizing it as a well-known cuisine item. These more modern varieties of the Meyer lemon plant were significantly more disease resistant. Their popularity increased when media celebrity Martha Stewart began featuring them prominently in her dishes.

How to Grow a Meyer Lemon Bush:

Put your Meyer lemon “tree” in sandy, loamy soil that is well-drained. The top inch of soil should always be damp but not saturated. The ideal pH range for the soil is between 5.5 and 6.5. If your soil’s pH needs to be lowered, apply sulfur; if it needs to be raised, use garden lime as directed on the package.

Meyer lemon shrubs enjoy moisture. This is crucial inside, where the levels must be maintained at 50% or above. In particular, during the drier months, spray the leaves several times daily or use a humidifier. To boost humidity, you can also lay your pot on a tray filled with stones and an inch or two of water. Place the tree away from drafty windows and air vents.

Enough sunlight is essential for optimizing development and fruit output. Meyer lemon plants can live in partial shade but prefer direct sunlight. Your plants need at least six to eight hours of sunlight each day, whether you have them indoors or outside. If your house doesn’t get a lot of natural light, think about buying grow lights. Use a nitrogen-rich fertilizer designed especially for citrus trees. Throughout the growing season, which runs from April to September, apply fertilizer two or three times. Yellow leaves are frequently a sign that fertilizer needs to be added. Check to see if your tree is receiving adequate water.

Pruning can give your Meyer lemon shrub a more tree-like appearance while also assisting in maintaining its health and beauty. Additionally, it can encourage the growth of larger lemons. Do not prune your tree until it is about 3 feet tall.

Meyer Lemon Bush vs. Tree: Special Features

There are many interesting facts about the Meyer lemon bush or tree. Meyer lemons are a cross between a mandarin and a lemon, thus making them a hybrid plant. Despite being sweeter than regular lemons, they have spent most of their history in China as ornaments and have not been consumed. Almost all Meyer lemons in the United States were eradicated by a virus that the plant carried asymptomatically in the 1940s. A new, virus-free selection was produced in the 1970s, and those are the Meyer lemons we enjoy today. Meyer lemons are exclusive in that they are only normally available from December to May, while conventional lemons are farmed all year.

What’s not to love about the Meyer lemon? If you need a good shrub or bush in your yard, this is a great fruit-bearing plant to choose. Just as well, the lemons produced by this plant are a great culinary staple that is much more versatile than the traditional lemon. If you’re willing to put the work into growing the Meyer lemon, this plant could be a fantastic addition to your garden.

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The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/AnnaPustynnikova