Most experienced gardeners are aware of certain trees that have been designed to grow successfully indoors. In particular, indoor fruit trees have gained in popularity and prominence. These dwarf citrus varieties are appealing to any level of gardener and instill a sense of pride and accomplishment when the tree produces a bountiful crop of fruit.



Most container gardeners are aware of the Meyer lemon tree, given its hearty nature and prolific fruit yield. Given the success of the Meyer, more and more dwarf citrus varieties are now available, and perfect for indoor gardeners. Let's take a closer look at five varieties now available from online sources.

Key Lime Tree - Key limes are the most popular lime trees in the United States, and can be quite successfully grown in containers. The limes are somewhat smaller than you'll typically see in a grocery store, but sweeter.

Ponderosa Lemon - The lemons produced by the Ponderosa are probably the biggest you've seen, weighing in a 1 1/2 to 2 pounds. At first we were worried the lemons would split off the branches and fall, but that's not the case. The tree holds onto its fruit extremely well, and the Ponderosa's scent is better than an air freshener.

Washington Navel Orange - This was our first attempt at growing oranges indoors, and we couldn't have been more pleased and surprised. This tree is unique in that it produces fruit in the winter. And the oranges are really special ... medium sized, seedless, and delightfully sweet.

Calamondin Tree - Just what is a calamondin? Well, it's very common in southeast Asia, and claimed as part of both the orange and lime family. This tree grows beautifully in a container and yields a fruit that tastes like a cross between an orange and a lime.

Fingered Citron - The fingered citron produces fruit in groupings that look somewhat like a person's hand, hence the name. This tree is very pleasantly fragrant, yielding fruit that tastes similar to a lemon, but a tad milder.

These are just a few types of indoor citrus trees that are available for container growing. Consider these trees for the beginning gardener, as they are quite easy care and their production of fruit instills gardening confidence and pride! Indoor citrus trees are generally shipped all year around, to even the coldest climates.