Meyer Lemon with three-lobe leaves?

by Dennis
(Starkville MS USA)

I purchased two "improved" Meyer lemon trees last year and repotted into 10 gallon containers.. They both overwintered mostly indoors in Zone 7b. Both grew nicely this year but had prominent horizontal branches which I cut off in hopes of developing more vertical ones to support a lemon crop. Note "Full View" picture attached. I then noticed the leaf structure was different on the fastest growing and upper part of one of the plants. The base of this plant has two branches. See 'Branches at trunk' photo. One branch contains single-lobe leaves and has not grown much this year (visible in the lower part of the plant in the Full View picture). The other branch has grown much faster but has three-lobed leaves. See Three-Lobed leaves picture. The single-lobed leaves from the other branch are visible in the lower portion of the photo. What do I have here? Is this branch the original receiver of the meyer graft? Should the branch with three-lobed leaves be removed? Thanks in advance for your help!


Drought Smart Plants reply:

I'm not an expert on citrus trees, but if other grafted fruit trees are any indication, this different branch could indeed be the root stock. It's advisable to cut off any shoots that come from below the graft if you can see it (look for a thicker area, possibly with different textured bark) as these will be from a vigorous, pest resistant strain with certain characteristics. These could be stronger growth habit so the tree is more stable in windy areas, drought tolerance, dwarf growth habit and others that are seen as desirable traits.

As you can see, they also have some nasty characteristics too, such as extreme vigor so that they will overwhelm the graft, and spines that can penetrate the hide of a cow.

You have guessed correctly that the single lobed leaves (and the less vigorous) is the named variety that you want to keep.

My advice is to cut the strong shoots off as they appear. This may promote some reaction such as suckering below the soil level, so be vigilant and keep removing them. Eventually in time, the graft will be the only part left and will produce fruit in only a few short years.

Good luck with your lemon tree!
Jacki