Re: looking for a teensy lemon tree

**John MacGregor j*@earthlink.net**

on 1/11/03 11:28 AM, swren1 at swren1@msn.com wrote:

> Anyone know of a source for those itty-bitty lemon trees, the ones you can
> keep on a tabletop?  We got one for my mother in law for Christmas and now I
> can't remember where it came from.

Sharon,

Your "itty-bitty lemon tree" is a Calamondin (XCitrofortunella microcarpa,
synonym XCitrofortunella mitis).  It traditionally is given and the fruits
are eaten by the Chinese at their New Year's celebration and by the
Vietnamese at Tet in the belief that the golden fruits promote prosperity
during the coming year.

http://www.stmlf.bayern.de/alle/cgi-bin/go.pl?region=home&page=http://www.st
mlf.bayern.de/lwg/gartenbau/citrus/citmic.html

http://www.plantes-et-jardins.com/catalogue/catalogue4.asp?id_variations=650
4

Logee's Greenhouses in Danielson, CT sells it under the old name
XCitrofortunella mitis.

There is also a variegated form, sold as 'Tiger' or 'Variegata', with leaves
margined with light yellow (eventually fading to white).  The unripe fruits
are striped yellow and green, but this striping disappears when they ripen
to a golden yellow-orange color.

John MacGregor
South Pasadena, CA 91030
USDA zone 9   Sunset zones 21/23

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