Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Fruit
Succulent
Origin
Asia
Southern Africa
Types
Avalon Lemon, Bears Lemon, Buddha's Hand, Bush Lemon, Citron
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Number of Varieties
5030
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Mixed deciduous forest, Tropical regions
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-1210-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
10-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Twisted/Contorted
Plant Size
Minimum Height
120.00 cm250.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
150.00 cm121.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Yellow, Lemon yellow
Green, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oval
Succulent
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, occasional watering once established
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Ample Water
In Spring
Moderate
Less Watering
In Winter
Average Water
Less Watering
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Generally pruned to waist height, pruning needed for strong structure, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Doesn't require fertilization when grown in rich soil
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Grasshoppers, Leafminers, Red blotch, Rust, Snails
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Drought and Salt
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
Butterflies
Allergy
Diarrhea, Hyperacidity, Sore Throat, Whooping Cough
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Glowing Skin, Maintains teeth healthy, Making cosmetics, Nourishes scalp, Perfumes, Skin inflammation
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Fixes Nitrogen, Insect Repellent, soil stabilisation
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Antibacterial, Antirheumatic, Appetizer, Bone strength, Digestion problems, Hangover, Healthy teeth, Nutrients, Obesity, Oral health, Skin irritation
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Fruits, Leaf Stalks, Leaves
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Air freshner, Biomass for fuel, Can be made into a herbal tea, Leaves are used as mosquito repellent, Making Perfumes, Preferably used as black tea, Used as a nutritious food item
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier, Tropical
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
CITRUS limon
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Lemon
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
नींबू
Elephant Bush
In German
Citrone or Limone or Zitrone
Elephant Bush
In French
Citron or Citronnier
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
Limón or Limonero
elefante Bush
In Greek
Λεμόνι [Lemóni]
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
Limão
elefante de Bush
In Polish
Cytrynowy
Elephant Bush
In Latin
Limon
bush elephant
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Sapindales
Caryophyllales
Family
Rutaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Citrus
Portulacaria
Clade
Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
Portulacarioideae
Number of Species
501
1
27800
👆🏻