Citrus Trees

Lemon, lime or something less common

Most gardens only need one lemon, so choose it carefully. Eureka (Citrus limon 'Eureka') is nearly thornless, fruits close to year round and finishes about 4m tall. Lisbon is more vigorous and handles heat and wind better, which suits hot inland gardens, but it carries serious thorns. The Meyer lemon is the pick for cooler regions: a smaller tree at about 3m and the most cold tolerant of the common citrus.

Among the limes, Tahitian is seedless, thornless and reaches about 3.5m, while Kaffir lime is grown for its leaves rather than juice and needs a frost free spot. Washington Navel remains the classic backyard orange at 3m to 4m, Imperial is Australia's most popular early season mandarin, and the Meiwa kumquat is the sweet one you eat whole, skin and all.

Where citrus trees grow well

Citrus thrive from the subtropics through warm temperate and Mediterranean climates, so most of the country qualifies. The honest limit is frost. Nearly every tree here is rated for light frost only, so in cold inland and southern gardens, plant against a north facing wall, protect young trees with frost cloth for their first two winters, and favour Meyer lemon or a kumquat. In the tropics, limes and pummelo (Citrus maxima) are the most reliable performers.

Growing citrus in pots

Any citrus on dwarf rootstock will live for decades in a container. The dwarf Meiwa kumquat stays near 1.5m, dwarf Cara Cara orange and Lemonicious lemon hold close to 2m, and even a full sized Imperial mandarin can be kept to 2m in a big pot. Start with a 50 litre container minimum, use a quality mix such as the Osmocote citrus and fruit potting mix, and accept that potted trees need more frequent water and feeding than their in-ground siblings.

Planting and the first year

Full sun, free draining soil, and a hole twice the width of the pot but no deeper. Leave 3m between full sized trees and keep them clear of paving so the canopy has room. Water deeply twice a week through the first summer, mulch 75mm deep while keeping mulch off the trunk, and feed with citrus fertiliser in late winter and again in late summer. Remove any fruit that sets in the first year so the tree puts its energy into roots. Our guide to growing citrus in an Australian backyard walks through the routine.

Common questions

Why are my citrus leaves turning yellow?

Usually hunger or cold. Yellowing across the whole tree in winter is normal in cooler regions, while yellow leaves with green veins point to a magnesium or iron shortage. Feed in late winter and the flush usually comes back green.

Can I keep a citrus tree at 2m?

Yes. Buy a dwarf grafted form, or prune a full sized tree lightly each year straight after harvest. Citrus fruit on new growth, so regular light pruning costs far less crop than one heavy cut.

Are citrus trees safe for pets?

No. Citrus foliage and oils can upset cats and dogs, so none of these trees carry our Pet Friendly flag. Most animals leave them alone, but plant away from a determined chewer.

How do citrus trees arrive?

Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and no minimum order. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every tree carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee. The wider citrus and fruit collection adds figs, avocados, mangoes and berries.