Yen Ben Lisbon Lemon Budwood

Citrus limon.

Lisbon lemon trees grow vigorously into large, thorny, upright but spreading trees. Due to their vigorous growth habit, the fruit is usually found within the canopy of the trees. The new leaves and flowers are tinged with purple. Lisbon trees produce several crops per year, but the main crop is winter and early spring. The fruits are medium in size, oblong, with a prominent nipple. The rind is slightly textured and yellow at full maturity. The flesh is pale greenish-yellow, low-seeded, and very acidic.

There are many named selections of Lisbon lemon, with individual characteristics that distinguish them from the original clone.

Fruit medium in size, elliptical to oblong; base tapering to inconspicuous neck; apex tapering likewise into a usually large, prominent nipple surrounded by an irregular areolar furrow, commonly deeper on one side. Seed content variable, but usually few to none. Color yellow at maturity. Rind medium-thick; surface finely pitted, faintly rugose, inconspicuously ribbed if at all; tightly adherent. Segments about 10; core small and solid. Flesh color pale greenish-yellow; fine-grained, tender, juicy; flavor very acid. Crop comes mainly in winter and early spring. 

Tree vigorous, upright-spreading, large, thorny, densely foliated, and productive. Tree most vigorous of varieties grown in California and most resistant to adverse conditions such as frost, heat, wind, and neglect. 

Lisbon is of Portuguese origin, although it is not known there by that name. It is believed to be a selection of the Gallego seedling clonal group, which in Portugal is somewhat comparable to the common sweet orange groups of Spain, Italy, and numerous other countries. A selection known as Portugal in Morocco and Algeria is said to be indistinguishable from the Lisbon introduced from California.

Rootstocks of accession: Yuma Ponderosa lemon.

Season of ripeness in the Riverside climate: Lisbon trees produce several crops per year, but the main crop is winter and early spring.

Prepared by the Givaudan Citrus Variety Collection at The University of California Riverside.