I just planted one this spring. I'm surprised to get six fruit this year-I thought I'd have to wait for a couple of years. Such a small tree and the largest of the fuit is about six inches in diameter and still growing. Some of my other lemons are just beginning to turn a slight yellow, but these are like large green grapefuit. Sorry to not answer your question, but I'm just learning about these also and wanted to let you know someone else is experimenting with the Ponderosa. It sounds like you're not going to have any fruit this year.

I think that 25' feet would be stretching it, even in South Texas. I have a Ponderosa that stands at approximately 10'. If you pulled the fruit, the limbs may spring up to about 15'. Ponderosa Lemons in the landscape often remind me of an oversized bigleaf Hydrangea (minus the pink/purple blooms).

TCTimmy, I read how huge the fruits are and that they are very flavorful. One fruit can make a whole lemon pie! My tree is about 5' tall. You say your tree is small, but has fruit. How tall is your tree? I'm hoping to have fruit next summer.

AnotherAltoEgo, How old is your 10' tree? Yes, I love the look of the tree. It's deciduous, am I right?

Thanks for the replys. :)

Mine is about six foot tall. It's bending over right now because of the weight of the fruit. If I didn't have it staked, it would probably snap-the trunk is soooo thin.

Ponderosa lemon tree's will indeed grow to 25 Ft. When I lived in Pompano Bch. Fl we had a huge Ponderosa tree in the yard. More than likely that tree has burned with the rest of So. FL citrus, but yes they do get to massive sizes. Problem is, in So. FL you can't give the fruit away... Nobody wants them.

Laaz, I just planted mine in the spring. I am surprised to get six fruit this year after planting a five gallon tree. My regular lemons are turning yellow but the Ponderosa are still dark green. When do they mature and are they good? I wouldn't take mine out, but I'm curious. I planted it in the front yard to hide the ugly house that was built across the cul-de-sac and a citrus keeps the leaves year round.

The Ponderosa I mentioned is 10-15(?) years old. Ponderosa is an evergreen, just like all other Citrus. And, even in the Rio Grande Valley, I've not noticed a 25' (tall) Ponderosa Lemon. I won't dismiss the possiblity--only the likelihood.
Timmy - They taste acidic, like true lemons. But, they yield a ton of seeds and a have thick rind. They are fun to grow and have plenty of juice. But I usually throw my fruit in the pond.

I have observed a neighbor's Ponderosa for over fifteen years. It was about six feet tall when I first saw it, and today it's still about six feet tall. It looks as if it has never been pruned. I can't see whether it is grafted onto a rootstock, which could affect the height, depending on what rootstock was used.

I'm so pleased to find out this tree is an evergreen! But not so pleased that it could get to be 25' tall. I've just planted it close to my back patio in order to enjoy the scent of the blossoms. If it grows to 25', I'm afraid, with time, it will be competing for space and nutrients with two larger trees nearby, about 25-30' away on either side. Is pruning an option or should I go ahead and move it? Any opinions or suggestions?

Ponderosa is not Hardy in zone 8. If you expect it to survive long you will need peotection in the winter.

Laaz brings up a good point. You say you are in Zone 8, but when I think of South Texas, I think of Corpus Christi, and south. Where exactly are you located?

I'm located just north of Houston, about 70 miles from the Gulf. Our winters are mild with only a few weeks of temps of 40 - 50. Our freezes are few and very light, rarely below 30 and only thru the night time hours.

Eric - So you are in East Texas. First, you don't have to worry about a 25' Ponderosa, north of Houston or anywhere else. Second, you can do some pruning, if necessary. Be prepared to protect the tree from cold weather, especially in the first few years. Although you are warmer than most US climates, you aren't totally out of the woods when it comes to a Ponderosa.

Eric here's my new Ponderosa. Gotta get it staked up this weekend.

{{gwi:633071}}

Wow, I can't believe a tree that small can bare the size of the fruit. My tree was purchased at a local nursery at 1/2 price (end of season sale) and I have concerns. The bottom of the root ball was a blunt cut off stalk. I thought that was weird. The roots were few and it was planted in what seemed like hard clay. I tried to loosen it without damaging too many roots, so I conditioned my soil and planted it. I hope the roots will be able to grow out. Is this normally the way the rootball of this type of tree would look? I hope they weren't just trying to get rid of it.

I have one 2 year about 3ft had a rough start the winter almost killed

it the first year I planted it. It still has not bloomed.. 😞

My God, this thread is 15 years old! I hope it grows well. Looks like a root stock. What is it?