Citrus limon Femminello Siracusano - Lemon Tree

Citrus limon 'Femminello Siracusano' lemon is the iconic variety of the city of Syracuse in Sicily. This vigorous variety produces fruits all year round, if the conditions are suitable. The white flowers are tinged with purple and give way to beautiful large oval fruits (130 to 160 g), very acidic and juicy, bright yellow when ripe. Sensitive to cold temperatures below -4°C (24.8 °F), it should only be grown in open ground in mild climates; elsewhere, it should be preferably grown in a large container, overwintered indoors in a greenhouse or conservatory.

The lemon tree, Citrus limon, in Latin, is a relatively vigorous citrus tree, which forms a small bushy tree, both ornamental and useful. It is one of the most cultivated citrus trees by amateur gardeners, due to its ease of cultivation, as well as its rapid growth and fruiting. The lemon tree produces, from a young age, white flowers tinged with purple that give rise to these oval and yellow fruits when ripe, which are highly appreciated worldwide. Rich in vitamins, the lemon is considered a panacea by some eminent naturopaths. Hardy up to about -7°C (19.4 °F), lemon trees and their varieties are extensively cultivated in open ground all around the Mediterranean. They also perform very well in pots, to be overwintered elsewhere.

Femminello type lemons are very common in Italy, especially in Sicily. There, they produce up to 6 harvests per year. Each harvest has a different name:

- Marzani, flowering in February-March and ripe fruits from January to March

- Invernali, flowering in March-April and ripe fruits from November to March

- Bianchetti, flowering in June-July and ripe fruits the following year from April to June

- Verdelli: flowering in July and ripe fruits the following year from July to September

- Primofiore: flowering in March and ripe fruits in September-October

- Bastardi: autumn flowering and ripe fruits in the following autumn

The Citrus limon is a small tree of the Rutaceae family, like all citrus trees. It is probably native to the southeastern Himalayas, Assam and Northern Burma and is the result of hybridisation between the Citron tree and the Bitter orange. It has a spreading habit, wider than it is tall. It can reach 3 to 5 m (9 ft 10 in to 16 ft 5 in) in height when grown in open ground, but will remain smaller in a pot. The young branches are tinged with purple, then become more grey with age. The 'Femminello Siracusano' variety has entire, ovate to lanceolate leaves, 5 to 10 cm (2 to 3.9 in) long and 3 to 4 cm (1.2 to 1.6 in) wide, dark green in colour. Flowering mainly occurs in spring, in May-June, but it can also occur during the summer. The purple floral buds open into small star-shaped white flowers tinged with purple. The flowering is followed by the formation of oval fruits with a small rounded protrusion at the apex. They measure about 6 cm (2.4 in) in diameter and 10 cm (3.9 in) in length. Their thick green skin turns rather pale yellow when ripe. They are very rich in essential oils. The yellow-green flesh is very acidic and juicy, rich in citric acid, minerals, and vitamins C, A, and B but low in sugars.

Cultivated for its ornamental qualities as well as for its lemons, the Lemon tree is part of the culinary traditions of all regions of the world. It is widely used in savoury and sweet dishes and its juice is used in refreshing drinks or cocktails, as well as a condiment in sauces and carpaccios. The zest is often used to flavour pastries and desserts. In addition to its culinary importance, the lemon tree is also a medicinal plant whose therapeutic properties, used for centuries in traditional medicine, are now scientifically proven. Lemon zest, rich in essential oils, is widely used in aromatherapy and perfumery. Easy to store, this citrus fruit was once carried on ships, providing a good source of vitamins to fight scurvy. Lemon wood is used in cabinet making.

Like all Citrus, the Citrus limon 'Femminello Siracusano' contains visible oil pockets in its leaves, flowers, and fruits, from which essential oil with dermatological and cosmetic properties, toning and disinfecting properties can be extracted by distillation (flowers and leaves) or by pressing (zest). The fragrance of the essential oil is described as fresh, pleasant, sweet, and lemony.
Most citrus trees thrive in open ground in Mediterranean coastal regions where they have the necessary warmth all year round. Elsewhere, they should be grown in containers and stored indoors at the first cold temperatures. Not very hardy, the Lemon tree begins to suffer from cold temperatures below -5°C (23 °F) and dies below -10°C (14 °F).

Flowering and pollination: The Lemon tree is a self-fertile bush, which means that a single individual is sufficient for complete pollination and fruiting. However, if your citrus tree remains indoors permanently, you will need to occasionally let the pollinators do their job or, if you are delicate enough, perform hand pollination.