Lemon is a tree, a long-term addition to the landscape. It's hardy across USDA zones 9 through 11 and stands up to deer. Its spring flowers are a real draw for honeybees, even though the fruit is the prize.
Zones
9-11
pH Range
5.5-8
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score Lemon on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether lemon actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score lemon against your land's real conditions.
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What Lemon is
Lemon grows as a perennial and reaches around 20 feet at maturity. It blooms white in spring. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Lemon
Lemon grows in USDA zones 9 through 11. Lemon does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.5 to 8, on well-drained ground. It needs around 4,500 growing degree days to mature, a growing season of at least 365 frost-free days, and about 0 hours of winter chill to set fruit, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
9-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.5 - 8
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
53.6°F
plant_species_v5.csv
GDD Required
4500+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
20 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Chill Hours
0+
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
365+
plant_species_v5.csv
Plant it right
Set lemon in full sun with well-drained soil. Many fruit trees need a second variety nearby to pollinate — check before you plant just one.
Match the soil
Lemon prefers pH 5.5 to 8 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Be patient, then harvest
Prune annually while the tree establishes; fruit trees reward patience with years of harvest. Local Extension guides publish per-cultivar bearing-age tables.
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — lemon is toxic to dogs and cats (mild severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)
Lemon is a standout pollinator plant — high value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Lemon thrives
Lemon is hardy across USDA zones 9 through 11. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 9–11·Where Lemon growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Lemon can grow in these states:
See if Lemon will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether lemon actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Lemon in my zone?
Lemon grows in USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Lemon?
Set lemon out in early spring or fall while it's dormant, so the roots establish before the heat of summer. Your local last-frost date — which a Growable Ground report pulls for your exact address — sets the precise window.
How much sun does Lemon need?
Lemon needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Lemon need?
Lemon prefers soil pH 5.5 to 8, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Lemon attract pollinators?
Yes — lemon's flowers are a strong nectar and pollen source for honeybees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Lemon safe for pets?
Lemon is toxic to pets (dogs,cats) with mild severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency.