Eureka vs Meyer Lemon Tree: Key Differences and Care Tips
Eureka lemons have the sharp, classic lemon flavor, while Meyer lemons are rounder and less acidic, with thinner skin. Both grow into nearly thornless trees, but they differ in size and in how they handle cold and containers, so the better pick depends on your space and your winters.
Eureka and Meyer lemon history
The Eureka began in Los Angeles, where a tree grown from Italian lemons was planted in 1858. A nurseryman named Thomas Garey introduced a promising selection from those trees in the late 1870s as Garey's Eureka. The variegated pink lemon started as a natural mutation of a Eureka tree in a home garden.
Frank Meyer, a USDA plant explorer, brought the Meyer lemon to the United States from near Beijing, China, in 1908. It is believed to be a cross between a lemon and an orange, so it is not a true lemon. The first Meyers carried a virus without showing symptoms, and the Improved Meyer, the only version sold since the 1970s, is virus-free.
Eureka vs Meyer lemon tree
Pick a Meyer if space is tight or you want a lemon for a pot. Pick a Eureka if you want the classic tart lemon and have a sunny spot with mild winters.
|
Trait |
Eureka |
Meyer |
|
Shape |
Open and spreading, with sparse foliage |
Shrubby and relatively small |
|
Size |
Medium; lemon trees in general reach 10 to 20 feet |
Standard trees reach 8 to 12 feet high and wide; dwarf forms are smaller |
|
Thorns |
Virtually thornless |
Nearly thornless |
|
Main Crop |
Late winter through early summer |
Fall through winter |
|
Cold Hardiness |
Less vigorous than most lemons and more sensitive to cold |
Hardier than true lemons, but still needs frost protection |
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Fruit characteristics
Eureka fruit is medium-small and elliptical to oblong, with a short nipple at the tip and a medium-thick, finely pitted rind that turns yellow when ripe. The flesh is greenish-yellow, tender and very juicy, with the sharp acidity most people expect from a lemon. The variegated pink Eureka has a rind striped green and cream that fades to yellow as it ripens, and its flesh turns light pink.
Meyer fruit is rounder, closer to an orange in shape, with a smooth, thin rind that ripens to orange-yellow. The flesh is light orange-yellow and juicy, and it is less acidic than the lemons you find in the produce aisle. The fruit is also tender enough that it doesn't ship or store well, which is why Meyers are a backyard favorite more than a grocery store staple.
Planting a Lemon Tree
Lemon trees love full sun, so give your trees plenty of it. Loose, well-drained soil is the goal, and sandy loam is ideal for these types of trees. If you have clay, plant on a wide, amended mound so water drains away from the roots. Keep mulch 4 to 6 inches away from the trunk.
Lemons are cold sensitive, and Eureka lemon tree is the more sensitive of the two. When frost or a freeze is in the forecast, cover the whole tree with material that reaches the ground so heat from the soil stays trapped, or string non-LED holiday lights through the branches.
Watering and Feeding
Young trees need regular water while they settle in. Water deeply, keep the root zone moist, and let the surface dry out a bit between waterings. Mature lemon trees don't need frequent watering, and too much water can make a tree decline, but the soil around the roots should never dry out completely. Drip irrigation makes this easy. Feed your tree during the growing season with a fertilizer made for citrus, and follow the label for dosage and scheduling.
Growing Lemons in Pots and Indoors
The Meyer is the lemon most often grown in a pot, and container guides recommend it over other lemons. Choose a pot with drainage holes and fill it with a well-drained potting mix made for container plants, not one built to hold moisture. A 5-gallon pot works to start, and many trees need a bigger one within a year of purchase.
Set the pot where it gets eight or more hours of direct sun. Container trees dry out faster than trees in the ground, so in hot, dry weather you may need to water daily. Never let the root ball dry out, and ease off in winter, because overwatering kills roots.
When cold weather is forecast, bring the lemon tree inside and put it by your brightest window or under a grow light, away from heater vents. Meyers don't fruit reliably indoors, so think of the house as a winter shelter. Once the weather warms, move the tree back outside and ease it into full sun over a week or two to avoid sunburn.
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Culinary Uses
Eureka brings that sharp, classic lemon flavor to lemonade, and the sliced fruit makes a garnish for fish, meat and drinks. The peel can be candied too.
Cooks and bakers prize Meyers for their sweet-tart flavor and aroma, and they work well wherever a recipe calls for lemon. Because Meyers are less acidic, lemonade or lemon bars made with them may need a little less sugar.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Meyer lemon sweeter than a Eureka lemon?
Meyers are less acidic than Eureka lemons and taste sweeter, with a sweet-tart flavor and a rich aroma.
Is a Meyer lemon a true lemon?
It is believed to be a cross between a lemon and an orange, so it isn't a true lemon, and that mix is why the fruit looks and tastes a little different.
Which lemon tree is better for a pot?
The Meyer is the better choice. Container guides recommend it over other lemons because it stays smaller and handles cold better than a true lemon.
Do I need two lemon trees to get fruit?
Lemons are self-fruitful, so one tree will set fruit on its own.
Can a lemon tree stay outside in winter?
Both are cold sensitive, and the Meyer handles cold better than the Eureka. A frost or freeze can damage either one, so cover trees in the ground when cold weather is forecast and bring pots inside.
References
Mississippi State University Extension Service, "Growing Citrus in Containers in Mississippi," https://extension.msstate.edu/publications/growing-citrus-containers-mississippi
UC Riverside Citrus Variety Collection, "Improved Meyer lemon,"
https://citrusvariety.ucr.edu/crc3737
UC Riverside Citrus Variety Collection, "Old line Eureka lemon,"
https://citrusvariety.ucr.edu/crc4094
UF/IFAS Extension, "Lemon Growing in the Florida Home Landscape," https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/HS402
UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions, "Meyer Lemon," https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/fruits/meyer-lemon/
