Please help identify/Save 'Lemon' Tree

14 years ago

Hello. My wife and I recently moved into a new home and we are having difficulty identifying our backyard tree. There is a gardening tag at the bottom that states 'Eureka Lemon' but this tree has large thorns which is not a characteristic. The fruit is larger than any lemon I've seen and looks more like a grapefruit. The previous tenant said it was a lemon tree?

Also, the tree seems to have some problems, possibly disease: Sap oozing from the bottom of fruit, small brown bumps all over the trunk and branches and finally ants crawling limb to limb.

I would really appreciate any help we would like to save this tree if possible. Thanx in advance!!

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Comments (6)

kaktuskris
14 years ago
Looks like two trees in photos. Larger one looks like a pomelo or pumello to me, looking at the cut fruit. Google it and see if you agree.
The brown bumps look like scale insects, which can be controlled by spraying. The smaller tree looks like the lemon tree, in my opinion.

Christopher
ashleysf
14 years ago
it looks to be an Eureka lemon whose rootstock has taken over the tree, which is why it is so thorny. Could you please check if you can detect a "graft line" and see if the thorny branches arise from under the graft line. If so, you might have a "poncirus/flying dragon" type plant that has overtaken the Eureka - you might have to chop off that part.
As for the sticky stuff - you seem to have an infestation of scales and ants. I got rid of this condition on my Meyer lemon by using dish washing detergent and water. Some people have successfully used fish emulsion and neem oil.
I am no expert - so, you might want to wait a few days to get more advise before proceeding. Your plant can be salvaged, I think.
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mrlongfellow
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks so much for the useful info!

Strangely the fruit near the bottom looks like lemons but at the top it appears to be grapefruit or yes Pumellos. I went out and looked at the tree base (in the dark mind you) and it looks like there is a graft line. The major portion of the tree stems off from the bottom, with heavy thorns, eventually producing the large oval fruit. Near the bottom, there is a smaller thornless plant, producing somewhat normal looking 'lemons'. The 'Eureka' lemon tag is attached to this portion. Could the tree be mostly a invading poncirus/flying dragon? I will take a better pic of the tree base and post it tomorrow. Thanks so much!!
ashleysf
14 years ago
"The major portion of the tree stems off from the bottom, with heavy thorns, eventually producing the large oval fruit. Near the bottom, there is a smaller thornless plant, producing somewhat normal looking 'lemons'. The 'Eureka' lemon tag is attached to this portion."
That confirms my suspicions - all growth below the graft line has to be removed. Maybe the previous owner did not pay much attention to this tree. The rootstock seems to have overtaken the Eureka lemon. You might have to remove all of the rootstock branches in order for the Eureka lemon to thrive or else the grafted part would lose its vigor and the rootstock will completely take over.
mrlongfellow
Original Author
14 years ago
That means that almost all of our tree has to be removed! Too bad, I liked how the light hit it at sundown. This is a much older home and I don't think anyone paid attention to this tree. Here's a pic of the tree base as promised:

{{gwi:642975}}

Thank you so much for all the help!!
cebury
14 years ago
I cannot get over how that second picture (the ooze) looks like a green DRAGON sitting on top of the fruit. The head's facial features are so well defined and it's big belly is funny. Does anyone else see this, or is it just me?

But alas, it's really sad about that tree. That is most certainly what happens when a sucker shoot from below the graft line is allowed to takeover. It will drain (ie. divert) almost all the nutrients from the tree and take over very quickly. That is a FourWinds citrus and here are their pics about the topic (showing what your trunk/branch probably looked like way back when): http://www.fourwindsgrowers.com/solver/suckering.html

I have seen pictures of folks who remove a large primary trunk and leave a smaller one like yours there to be the new tree. However, this was on a standard citrus rootstock and not on Flying Dragon and you know the caveats: every situation is different...

Since it's not a lot of effort (fore-go dealing with the aphids, ants, and scale) I would attempt to saw it off several inches above where it's joined trying not to injure your true lemon tree. And cut off that other smaller sucker from the base. I can only imagine the variety of issues you might encounter if it goes wrong. However these would be in the relative short term; if the tree survives it might grow back wonderfully.

I suggest this because I assume it's has a great established root base and it could turn out to be an interesting experience.

What did you decide to do?

Please help identify/Save 'Lemon' Tree

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kaktuskris

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Please help identify/Save 'Lemon' Tree

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