Description
Dwarf Lemonade (Citrus limon x reticulata)
Originally discovered in the 1980’s in New Zealand, the Lemonade may look a bit like round a lemon, but it has a sweet, tangy flavour that definitely has to be tasted to be appreciated. It’s thought to be a natural hybrid between a mandarin and a lemon, hence the sweet flavour and lemony appearance.
When planted in good conditions, the Lemonade tree is a strong grower with a mostly upright growth habit. The dwarf tree can reach anywhere from 1 – 1.5m in its lifetime, so it’s perfect for smaller gardens or for being grown in a large pot. These trees tend to produce an abundance of flowers which will definitely attract the bees and keep them happy, though sometimes it can cause the leaves to lose a bit of their ‘green’ as the flowers and fruit takes a lot of energy out of the tree.
As the name might suggest, when ripe, the Lemonade fruit can be eaten straight off the tree or juiced to make a delicious lemonade. When it’s mature, the Lemonade tree can be a good producer. This fruit isn’t commonly available in a majority of grocery stores or fruit shops, so it could be a great addition to your garden especially if you’ve already got lemons and limes and are looking for something a little different.
For our citrus care recommendations, please check our Help & Advice page!
