Ponderosa lemon tree with enormous bumpy yellow lemons weighing down its branches

Ponderosa Lemon

Citrus limon 'Ponderosa'
Categories:
Citrus  ·  
Lemons & Limes
Light
Full sun
Water
Water deeply and allow the upper 2–3 inches of soil to dry before watering again. Increase frequency during extreme summer heat; reduce in winter. Keep irrigation away from the trunk and extend it beneath and beyond the canopy.
Size
6-12 ft tall × 6-10 ft wide
Habit
Upright tree – single-trunk
Toxicity
Toxic — Pets & Humans
Description
A thorny citrus hybrid, generally considered a citron–pomelo cross, producing exceptionally large, thick-skinned yellow fruit with acidic, lemon-like juice.
Bloom Time
Spring / with intermittent reblooming
Deciduous / Evergreen
Evergreen
Special Features
Edible, Fragrant
Growth Rate
Moderate
Growth Habit
Upright tree – single-trunk
Mature Size
6-12 ft tall × 6-10 ft wide
Flower Color
White
Foliage Color
Dark green
Landscape Use
Container / Patio, Edible / Orchard, Specimen / Accent
Garden Style
Edible Garden
Soil
Sandy / Rocky, Well-Drained
Companion Plants
Avoid dense planting, Lantana, Society garlic
Toxic — Pets & Humans
Toxic to pets (essential oils); fruit edible to humans
Care Instructions

Light: Full sun; in Phoenix, provide afternoon shade, especially for young trees. Avoid intense reflected heat from west-facing walls.

Water: Water deeply and allow the upper 2–3 inches of soil to dry before watering again. Increase frequency during extreme summer heat; reduce in winter. Keep irrigation away from the trunk and extend it beneath and beyond the canopy.

Soil: Well-drained soil; sandy loam preferred. Avoid waterlogged soil and planting too deeply. Phoenix’s alkaline soils may require treatment for iron deficiency.

Mature size: Typically 12–24 feet tall and 10–15 feet wide in the ground; dwarf rootstocks and container culture can keep plants approximately 6–10 feet tall.

Bloom: Primarily late winter through spring, with additional flowering possible during warm weather. Flowers and developing fruit may appear together.

Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen.

Growth rate: Moderate.