Citrus Pigmentata - Red Lemon

The Red Lemon or Citrus medica Pigmentata is a variety of red citrons that are quite old, but sought after by collectors because they are still not widely available. It is a beautiful citrus tree probably resulting from the hybridisation of a lemon tree and a citron tree. Medium sized, it forms a small thorny ornamental tree. Its large white flowers are intensely fragrant and its superb fruits are like large lemons, with a thick and lumpy skin that changes from soft yellow to blood red. Their yellow, acidic and aromatic pulp resembles that of the classic lemon. Hardy up to about -3°C (26.6 °F), the Pigmentata citron can only be grown in the ground in zones 9-11. It also performs very well in pots, to be stored indoors during winter.

The Citrus x limonimedica Pigmentata is a small tree of the Rutaceae family, like all citrus trees. Its habit is spreading, wider than it is tall. It can reach 3m (9 ft 10 in) in height when grown in the ground, but will remain smaller in pots. The branches bear long 4cm (1.6 in) thorns and evergreen leaves in winter, similar to those of the lemon tree. They are entire, ovate to lanceolate, measuring 5 to 8cm (2 to 3.1 in) in length and 3 to 4cm (1.2 to 1.6 in) in width, of a fairly dark green, fragrant when crushed. Flowering mainly takes place in spring, in May-June, but can also occur during the summer. Gathered in small clusters, the floral buds, white-pink, open into large star-shaped white flowers. This flowering is followed by the formation of oval fruits with a small rounded apex. They measure about 8-10cm (3.1-3.9 in) in diameter. Their thick green skin gradually turns yellow, then gradually tints red, becoming dark red when ripe. They are very rich in remarkably fragrant essential oils. The pulp, yellow, is fragrant, acidic and moderately juicy, rich in citric acid, minerals and vitamins C, A and B but low in sugars. It leaves a fleeting orange aroma in the mouth.

Cultivated for its ornamental qualities as well as the aroma of its often candied peel, the Citron tree is somewhat overshadowed in our culinary traditions among citrus fruits. The red citron, which is richer in pulp, can be used to make juice or marmalade, but also in a more classic way to flavour desserts with grated zest. It is also a medicinal plant with therapeutic properties similar to those of the lemon. The zest of the Pigmentata citron, which is very rich in essential oil, is used in aromatherapy and perfumery. Easy to store, this citrus fruit was once loaded onto sailing ships, providing a good source of vitamins to combat scurvy. Lemonwood is used in cabinetmaking.

Like all Citrus trees, the red citron contains pockets of essential oil in its leaves, flowers, and fruits, often visible to the naked eye, from which essential oil is extracted through distillation (flowers and leaves) or pressing (zest). This essential oil is highly valued in perfumery and is described as a wonderful blend of hesperidium and flower scents.

Flowering and pollination: the Citrus medica Pigmentata 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 work or, if you are delicate enough, perform hand pollination with a brush.