There are a lot of great lemon varieties out there from the citron to the ponderosa lemon, but two of the most popular are the Meyer lemon and the Eureka lemon.
Is lemon a fruit? If you think of fruit as being sweet, the lip-puckering lemon may have you doubting it! Eureka lemons are definitely of the bitter lemon variety (AKA a “true” lemon), while the fruit of a Meyer lemon tree tends to be sweeter because it’s actually a hybrid between a true lemon and the sweeter mandarin orange.
Meyer lemon trees produce smaller, orange-yellow fruit that is thinner-skinned than eureka lemons. Meyer lemons resemble an orange in shape, color, and pulp, more than they do a true lemon. Eureka lemon trees produce oblong, juicy fruit that has a medium-gold color, and while the skin is thicker than that of Meyer lemons, it is softer. Meyer lemons tend to be sweeter and less acidic than eureka lemons. Eureka lemons can have yellow-and-green variegated skins and flesh with a distinctly pinkish hue.
Where do Meyer Lemons Come From vs Where do Eureka Lemons Come From?
The Meyer lemon tree is native to China. It was brought to North America more than a century ago and is believed to be a cross between a lemon tree and a mandarin or mandarin variety tree. Eureka lemon trees originated in California from seeds that came from Sicily in the late 1850s.
Regardless of the type, lemon trees of all kinds are popular with home gardeners because of their lush green foliage and juicy, flavorful fruit. But which type of lemon tree is right for you? Browse Yarden’s collection of lemon trees and choose between a Meyer lemon tree, Eureka lemon tree, and more!