Dwarf Meyer Lemon
Citrus × meyeri 'Improved'
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Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™ Protected
Your order is protected by our compliance system that:
- Prevents restricted plants from shipping to your state
- Ensures plants meet your state's agricultural requirements
- Protects gardens from invasive pests and diseases
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Fast, Safe Plant Delivery
Ships in 3-4 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected
| Under $50 | $9.99 |
| $50 - $99.99 | $14.99 |
| $100 - $149.99 | $16.99 |
| $150 - $198.99 | $24.99 |
| $199+ | FREE |
✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee
Understanding Plant Options
Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:
- Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
- Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements
Container Plant Sizes
Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.
Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2" x 2" x 3" | 0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts | 0.20 - 0.23 dry liters |
| 4" Container | 0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts | 0.35 - 0.96 dry liters |
| 4.5" Container | 0.65 dry quarts | 0.72 dry liters |
| 6" Container | 1.4 dry quarts | 1.59 dry liters |
| 1 Quart | 1 dry quart | 1.1 dry liters |
| 5.5" Container | 1.89 dry quarts | 2.08 dry liters |
Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Quart | 2 dry quarts | 2.2 dry liters |
| #1 Container | 2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts | 2.49 - 4.11 dry liters |
| 5" x 5" x 12" | 3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts | 3.85 - 4.74 dry liters |
Mature Plants (2-4 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #2 Container | 1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons | 5.24 - 7.75 dry liters |
| #3 Container | 2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons | 8.14 - 12.16 dry liters |
Large Plants (3-5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #5 Container | 2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons | 12.86 - 20.35 dry liters |
| #6 Container | 5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons | 23.12 - 26.42 dry liters |
| #7 Container | 5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons | 26.34 - 28.76 dry liters |
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.
Common Sizes:
- Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
- Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet
Important Notes
Container Volume Specifications
- Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
- Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
- Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents
Growing Conditions
- Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
- Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
- Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment
Seasonal Availability
- Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
- Container plants are available throughout the growing season
- Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes
Questions?
For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.
Plant Sentry™ Protected
Your order is protected by our compliance system that:
- Prevents restricted plants from shipping to your state
- Ensures plants meet your state's agricultural requirements
- Protects gardens from invasive pests and diseases
Plant Profile & Growing Essentials
Flowering, Self-pollinating, Edible, Fragrant, Container Friendly, and Low Maintenance
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Botanical Name
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Height
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Width
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Growing Zones
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Sunlight
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Growth RateModerate
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Flower Color
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Leaf Color
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Fall Color
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Pollinator FriendlyYes
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Pollinator Required
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FragrantYes
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Bloom PeriodLate Spring, Early Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Late Fall
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Does Not Ship ToAK, AZ, CA, FL, GA, HI, ID, LA, MT, NV, TX
The Dwarf Meyer Lemon (Citrus × meyeri 'Improved') brings the dream of homegrown citrus within reach, even if you live far from lemon groves. This compact hybrid, sometimes called Improved Meyer Lemon or Improved Dwarf Meyer Lemon, produces sweeter, less acidic fruit than standard supermarket lemons, with a flavor that hints at its mandarin orange ancestry.
Year-Round Beauty and Bounty
Meyer lemons don't follow the typical one-and-done fruiting schedule. In ideal conditions, these trees bloom multiple times throughout the year, meaning you can have fragrant flowers and ripening fruit on the same plant simultaneously. The waxy white blossoms carry an intoxicating citrus perfume that fills a room or patio, and each flower has the potential to become a golden-orange lemon ready for harvest in 6-9 months.
The glossy, deep green foliage stays evergreen year-round, providing ornamental value even between harvests. New growth emerges with a purple-bronze tint before maturing to green, adding subtle color interest to this already productive plant.
Perfect for Container Growing
The 'Improved' cultivar was specifically selected for its compact habit and disease resistance, making it the ideal choice for container culture. Kept in a suitable pot, your Meyer lemon stays manageable at 4-6 feet tall, easy to move indoors when temperatures drop below 50°F. Gardeners in zones 9-11 can plant directly in the ground where trees reach 6-10 feet at maturity.
This versatility means citrus lovers in Minnesota can harvest the same sweet lemons as those in California, as long as you provide a sunny indoor spot for winter. Many growers keep their Meyer lemon on a wheeled plant caddy for easy seasonal transitions between patio and sunroom.
A Culinary Favorite
Chefs prize Meyer lemons for their thin, edible skin and juice that balances sweetness with bright acidity. The fruit works beautifully in everything from lemon curd and cocktails to roasted chicken and salad dressings. Because you control how your tree is grown, you can harvest fruit at peak ripeness and use the zest knowing exactly what went into producing it.
One mature tree produces dozens of lemons per year, more than enough for a household that appreciates fresh citrus.
Why 'Improved' Matters
The original Meyer lemon, introduced from China in 1908, carried a devastating virus that threatened commercial citrus orchards. The 'Improved' variety released in the 1970s is certified virus-free and safe to grow near other citrus. This is the variety reputable nurseries sell today, and the one you want in your collection.
Decorative, Delicious Container-Grown Fruit
Frank Nicholas Meijer was an immigrant from the Netherlands who worked for the US Department of Agriculture in 1902. Upon arriving in the United States, he changed his last name to Meyer. During his short life of just 42 years, Meyer would be credited with more significant plant introductions than anyone in US history.
In 1905, the United States sent Meyer to Russia and China on the first of four plant-finding trips.
Sometime, while on his second trip to Asia in a small village near Beijing, Meyer came upon a small citrus tree in a container, with bright yellow fruit. He was told that it was just a decorative variety, but Meyer sampled the fruit anyway.
He knew right away that it was something special and collected cuttings to be sent back to the United States. The first cuttings ended up at Chico State University in California in 1907.
The Meyer Lemon is of unknown parentage. It is thought to be a cross of a seedling Lemon and a seedling Mandarin, though others speculate on different possibilities.
The Meyer was not considered of great commercial importance because of its thin skin and poor shipping qualities. However, the Meyer caught on with the home garden community throughout the country.
Today, the Meyer Lemon is the number one citrus variety sold throughout the world and is a staple for most home garden landscapes, either in the ground or as a decorative container plant.
