Pernell Gerver's Featured Plant of the Month Citrus Meyer Lemon Ponderosa Lemon Key Lime Buddha's Hand Calamondin Orange Citrumelo, also called "Hardy Grapefruit"  To order citrus from Pernell Gerver's Online Store click here or click on a plant name below.

Wouldn't it be nice to grow your own oranges or lemons or limes? Well, you can! Although these types of citrus are grown outdoors in warmer climates like Florida and California, it's possible to grow your own citrus indoors in colder climates, as well. Click on a plant name to order it from Pernell Gerver's Online Store. There are about 15 different species in the genus Citrus including lemons, limes, oranges, tangerines, and grapefruits. When grown outdoors, they form large shrubs or small trees, but when grown in containers indoors, they remain a manageable size around four to six feet tall. They are attractive house plants with dark-green, glossy leaves, abundant flowers, and colorful fruits. Before the fruit appears, citrus bears creamy-white, star-shaped flowers that have a sweet fragrance that really perfumes the air. The flowers are borne singly or in clusters of up to five. The fragrant flowers alone are reason enough to grow this group of plants indoors because they bloom nearly all year long. The main bloom period is from spring to early summer, but most citrus will produce some flowers constantly. Lemons are almost constantly in bloom. The fruit follows the flowers and is green until it is fully developed, then it ripens to yellow, yellow orange, or orange, depending on species. Even when ripe, the fruit can remain on the branches for several months. It's not unusual to have both flowers and fruit on the plant at the same time. Citrus grow best in bright light and average room temperature, although they can tolerate temperatures as low as 40 degrees. During summer, set the pot outdoors in a partially-shaded spot in the garden. There are many different species of citrus that grow well indoors. Meyer lemon is an heirloom plant, having been popular with house plant enthusiasts for years and years. The fruits are quite flavorful, with a hint of sweetness, and appear on even young plants. The fruit is orange yellow when mature. Its fragrant flowers bloom nearly all year long and it grows to three feet high. Ponderosa lemon is a unique house plant citrus that bears some of the largest lemons of all. The fruits are easily the size of a grapefruit and hang on the plant for months. One fruit can weigh up to five pounds! It's an everblooming house plant and its sweet-smelling, large, white flowers really perfume a room. Ponderosa lemon grows three to five feet high. Key lime bears the fruits that Key Lime Pie is made from. It's a small plant, growing just one to two feet tall. It bears clusters of fragrant, white flowers that bloom in late summer and autumn. The fruits develop in late autumn and through winter. It's one of the best citrus to grow in pots because of its small size. Citrus 'Buddha's Hand' is one of the most unique house plant citrus. It bears elongated fruit that is segmented into finger-like sections. It's very unusual and quite the conversation piece. It's thought that this is the oldest citrus in cultivation. The fruit is inedible, but the rind is often candied. Calamondin orange is the most popular house plant citrus. It bears fruit at a very young age. Plants as small as a few inches high bear fruit. It bears highly-fragrant flowers off and on all year long. The fruit matures to about an inch and a half across and is often used to make marmalade. Its glossy, deep-green foliage is the perfect backdrop for its showy fruits. Citrumelo, also called "Hardy Grapefruit" is a cross between trifoliate orange (also called “hardy orange”) and pumello grapefruit. The fruit it produces is smooth skinned and large. The flavor is a blend of lemon and grapefruit.   Click here to browse Pernell Gerver's Online Store Email me every time a new Plant of the Month is added. Your email address: Confirm your email address:   To read my past choices for Plant of the Month click here.

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