What is the Meyer lemon?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

February 6, 2003

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~

Suggested Reading—>Click here.

Assorted Killer Savings Garden Links—>Click here.

Unique Professionally Designed Gardens—>Click here.

Killer Picks: Key Lime, Venous Orange, Citura Tangerine—>Click here.

In 1905, David Fairchild of the U.S. Department of Agriculture hired Frank N. Meyer to work as a plant hunter. Within months, Meyer left the U.S. to explore China. His assignment was to find new varieties unknown to the western world. Meyer hiked the Chinese countryside.

In 1908, Meyer was in Peking (Beijing) preparing to return to the U.S. He found a curious citrus tree growing as a potted plant in a dooryard.
advertisement

Dwarf Improved Meyer Lemon Tree Citrus limon 'Improved Meyer'—Sweet lemons and fragrant flowers year-round.8-10' tall and 12' wide outdoors; can be kept smaller in a container.
Click here - Save $20 on $50 order [More Fruit]

Meyer obtained the specimen. The fruit was lemon-like, but tasted sweeter. Allowed to ripen on the tree, the rind turned golden.

The Meyer lemon tree is one of the cold hardiest Citrus varieties tolerating temperatures down to -2 degrees C (29 degrees F). Although, it bears heavily November through April, the tree is everbearing—flowers and fruit are present on the tree at the same time.

The tree is believed a hybrid between Citrus limon, the lemon, and Citrus reticulata, the mandarin orange. The flavor is the gourmet's choice; even a special vodka is distilled once a year with Meyer's lemon.

Frank Meyer returned to Asia four more times. He discovered and introduced to the U.S. over 2,000 plants improving the genetics of agricultural plants. Meyer never lived to see how important his work was to the world. In 1918, China was in political upheaval and at war with Japan. Inexplicably, Meyer died while aboard a boat on the Yangtze.

The National Agricultural Library of the USDA has fascinating information about their plant hunters. To learn more about the early days of the USDA, click on the link:

http://www.nal.usda.gov/NewAlin/1996junaug/junaug1996/galloway.htm

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~

Unique Professionally Designed Gardens

Springhill Nursery®

Spring Hill Nursery has unique gardens professionally designed by experts to take the guesswork out of gardening. Whether you are looking for a three season garden, foundation garden, or a garden to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, Spring Hill Nursery has created a step-by-step design just for you. Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!

Fruit Trees, Dwarf Key Lime

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Flowers and Fragrance, Too!

Evergreen foliage, sweetly scented flowers and edible fruit in one! Can be moved outdoors in summer, so the bees take care of pollination for you. Varieties grow from 2-5 feet tall. Pick citrus in 1-3 years, figs and pomegranuates in 2-4 years and bananas in 3-5 years.

Potted plants. Click here - $20 off any order for $50 or more at Gurneys.com! [Patio Plants]

Dwarf Venous Orange

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Fun, Flowers and Fragrance, Too!

Evergreen foliage, sweetly scented flowers and edible fruit in one! Can be moved outdoors in summer, so the bees take care of pollination for you. Varieties grow from 2-5 feet tall. Pick citrus in 1-3 years.

Potted plants. Click here - $20 off any order for $50 or more at Gurneys.com! [House & Patio Plants For Sale]

Dwarf Citura Tangerine

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Fun, Flowers and Fragrance, Too!

Evergreen foliage, sweetly scented flowers and edible fruit in one! Can be moved outdoors in summer, so the bees take care of pollination for you. Varieties grow from 2-5 feet tall, Pick citrus in 1-3 years.

Potted plants. Click here - $20 off any order for $50 or more at Gurneys.com! [House & Patio Plants For Sale]