Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Dwarf Lisbon Lemon
Dwarf Lisbon Lemon is the classic tart, juicy true lemon on a smaller tree. It stays about 8 to 10 feet tall, a size that fits a tight yard or a large patio pot. The main crop ripens in winter, and the tree can set more than one crop a year. Lemons can be picked green and used before the rind turns yellow.
Best for: tart lemons for juice and cooking from a smaller tree, a lemon for a large patio pot or a tight yard, and spring blossoms that bring in bees.
Dwarf citrus are the best choice for growing in pots. Use a pot about 20 to 24 inches across with drainage holes, and keep it off hot west walls in summer.
It stays about 8 to 10 feet tall and wide in the ground. Plant dwarf citrus about 8 feet apart in full sun, and let it keep its low branches.
Lisbon gives medium size, tart, juicy lemons with a smooth rind. It handles heat, cold, wind and neglect better than other lemons, and the main crop ripens in winter.
The branches are thornier than most lemons. Lemons are frost tender, with damage starting around 25 to 27°F. Pots dry out fast and heat up near west walls and pavement.
- Dwarf citrus in a rowAbout 8 ft apart
- Standalone tree8 to 10 ft from other trees
A young citrus tree needs water every few days in its first months, more often in summer. Water out past the edge of the canopy, not at the trunk.
Soak it 2 to 3 feet deep about every 7 to 14 days in summer and every 3 to 4 weeks in winter. Never water shallow and daily.
Feed with citrus fertilizer three times a year, the lemon and lime schedule: January to February, March to April, and August to September.
Prune lightly from late winter into spring, never in summer, and wear gloves for the thorns. Leave the low branches, which shade the trunk, and paint any exposed bark with white latex paint.
Lemons are among the least cold hardy citrus, with damage starting around 25 to 27°F. On freezing nights drape frost cloth or sheets over young trees to the ground, and water the day before.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does a dwarf Lisbon lemon get?
Expect about 8 to 10 feet tall and about as wide in the ground. It stays smaller in a pot, and light pruning keeps it smaller still.
How is a dwarf Lisbon different from a standard Lisbon?
A standard Lisbon grows about 10 to 15 feet tall and wide, and standard citrus can pass 20 feet across with age. The dwarf stays smaller and is the easier choice for a pot.
Does a dwarf tree give full size lemons?
Yes. The tree is smaller, but dwarf, semi-dwarf and standard citrus trees bear the same size fruit.
Can I grow a dwarf Lisbon lemon in a pot in Phoenix?
Yes. Use a pot about 20 to 24 inches across with drainage holes. Pots dry out fast in summer, so check the soil often.
How far apart should I plant dwarf lemon trees?
Plant dwarf citrus about 8 feet apart center to center. Give a standalone tree 8 to 10 feet from other trees. The Spacing tab can count trees for a row.
Which size should I buy?
The 15 gallon is the easier tree to cover on frosty nights while it roots in. The 25 gallon gives you more size at planting. The size guide describes each one.
Does a Lisbon lemon have thorns?
Yes. Lisbon is thornier than other lemons, so wear gloves and long sleeves when picking and pruning.
When are Lisbon lemons ready to pick?
The main crop ripens in winter, and the tree can set more than one crop a year. You can pick lemons green and use them before the rind turns yellow.
How cold can a Lisbon lemon take?
Lemons are among the least cold hardy citrus, with damage starting around 25 to 27°F. Lisbon takes more cold than Eureka. Cover young trees with frost cloth or sheets to the ground, never plastic. A potted tree can be moved to a sheltered spot.
How often should I water a Lisbon lemon?
In the ground, water deeply out past the edge of the canopy, 2 to 3 feet down. Established trees need water about every 7 to 14 days in summer and every 3 to 4 weeks in winter. Young trees need water every few days at first.
When should I fertilize a lemon tree?
Lemons and limes get three feedings a year with citrus fertilizer. Apply one in January or February, one in March or April, and one in August or September.
Is a lemon tree safe for dogs and cats?
No. Lemon trees are listed as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Chewing the peel, leaves or stems can cause vomiting, diarrhea and depression, so keep pets from chewing on the tree.
Dwarf Lisbon Lemon for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Dwarf Lisbon is the tough, tart true lemon on a smaller tree, for Valley yards and large patio pots. Below are the questions homeowners ask most, from size, pots and spacing to harvest, frost and feeding.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
How big does a dwarf Lisbon lemon tree get?
Expect about 8 to 10 feet tall and about as wide in the ground. It stays smaller in a pot, and light pruning in late winter or spring keeps it smaller still.
Can you grow a Lisbon lemon in a pot in Phoenix?
Yes. Dwarf citrus are the best choice for pots, and dwarf Lisbon is grown as a container lemon for the patio. Plan on a pot about 20 to 24 inches across with drainage holes. Pots dry out fast in summer and heat up near west walls and pavement.
Do dwarf lemon trees give full size fruit?
Yes. Dwarf, semi-dwarf and standard citrus trees bear the same size fruit. Only the tree is smaller, so you get regular fruit from a tree that fits a small space.
Dwarf vs standard Lisbon lemon
A standard Lisbon grows about 10 to 15 feet tall and wide and is planted about 15 feet apart. The dwarf stays about 8 to 10 feet and can be planted about 8 feet apart.
How far apart do you plant dwarf citrus?
Plant dwarf citrus trees about 8 feet apart center to center, and give a standalone tree 8 to 10 feet. The spacing calculator can count trees for a row.
Best lemon tree for Phoenix heat
Lisbon is the true lemon that handles heat, cold, wind and neglect best, and it grows well in desert valleys. It takes more cold than Eureka, the other common true lemon.
When to fertilize lemon trees in the Valley
Lemons and limes get three feedings a year. Apply citrus fertilizer in January or February, March or April, and August or September.
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