Lemon Zest Mango Tree – Grafted Live Plant – 1 ft Tall – Ships in 6 inch Pot

Overview

Cultivate your own tropical paradise with the exquisite lemon zest mango tree. This grafted live plant is renowned for producing exceptionally sweet and uniquely citrus-flavored mangoes, living up to its vibrant name. Originating from Florida, the ‘Lemon Zest’ variety (Mangifera indica ‘Lemon Zest’) is a favorite among mango connoisseurs for its fiberless flesh and refreshing taste. Our offerings are healthy, 1-foot tall grafted specimens, ensuring you receive a robust plant ready to thrive. Grafting ensures that the tree will bear fruit true to the ‘Lemon Zest’ variety and often results in earlier fruiting compared to seed-grown trees. This makes it an ideal choice for both seasoned gardeners and those new to growing tropical fruit trees, promising a rewarding harvest of delectable fruit right from your backyard or patio.

The lemon zest mango tree is a medium-sized, vigorous grower that can be maintained at a manageable height with proper pruning, making it suitable for a range of garden sizes or even large containers. Its attractive foliage and potential for abundant, flavorful fruit make it a standout addition to any edible landscape. Experience the joy of harvesting your own sweet, tangy mangoes with this exceptional variety.

Key Benefits

The lemon zest mango tree offers a multitude of benefits, from its delicious fruit to its ornamental value. Growing this particular grafted mango plant can transform your garden and culinary experiences.

• Exceptional Flavor Profile: The primary draw of the Lemon Zest mango is its unique taste. It boasts a distinct, sweet, and tangy flavor with prominent citrus notes, making it a favorite for fresh eating, smoothies, and desserts. The flavor is often described as a delightful blend of mango, lemon, and sometimes even tangerine.
• Fiberless Flesh: Unlike some other mango varieties, the Lemon Zest is celebrated for its smooth, fiberless flesh. This makes for a more enjoyable eating experience, with no stringy bits to contend with, just pure, juicy goodness.
• Vigorous Growth & Productivity: This grafted tree is known for its strong growth habit and excellent productivity. With proper care, you can expect a healthy tree that yields a generous amount of fruit once established, providing ample fresh mangoes for your family and friends.
• Adaptable for Container Growing: While it can be planted in the ground in suitable climates, the lemon zest mango tree also adapts well to container growing. This allows gardeners in cooler regions to move the plant indoors during colder months, extending its reach beyond traditional tropical zones.
• Ornamental Appeal: Beyond its fruit, the Lemon Zest mango tree is an attractive specimen with lush green foliage, providing a beautiful tropical aesthetic to your landscape or patio. Its vibrant new growth can add a touch of color, enhancing its visual appeal.
• Grafted for Early Fruiting: Being a grafted tree, it is genetically identical to the parent plant, ensuring true-to-type fruit. Grafting also significantly reduces the time it takes for the tree to start bearing fruit, meaning you can enjoy your first harvest much sooner than with a seedling.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your lemon zest mango tree, especially a grafted mango plant, requires attention to several key factors to ensure healthy growth and abundant fruiting. Understanding the specific needs of this tropical fruit tree will help it thrive. Mango trees, including the Lemon Zest variety, prefer full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. If growing indoors, place it near a south-facing window or supplement with grow lights. Good air circulation is also important to prevent fungal issues.

When it comes to watering, consistent moisture is crucial, especially during flowering and fruiting periods. However, mango trees do not like soggy feet, so ensure the soil is well-draining. Water deeply when the top 2-3 inches of soil feel dry to the touch, then allow it to dry out slightly before the next watering. Overwatering can lead to root rot. The ideal soil for a lemon zest mango tree is a slightly acidic (pH 6.0-7.0), well-draining sandy loam. If planting in a pot, use a high-quality potting mix formulated for tropical plants or citrus, ensuring it has good drainage. These trees are tropical by nature and prefer warm temperatures, ideally between 70-90°F (21-32°C). They are sensitive to frost and should be protected when temperatures drop below 40°F (4°C). In colder climates, container growing is recommended so the tree can be moved indoors.

Fertilize your mango tree regularly during the growing season (spring through fall) with a balanced fertilizer specifically designed for fruit trees or tropical plants, following the product’s instructions. A common problem for mango trees is anthracnose, a fungal disease that affects leaves, flowers, and fruit. Good air circulation, proper pruning, and fungicide applications if necessary can help manage this. Keep an eye out for pests like scale and mealybugs, and treat with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap as needed. Regular pruning is essential for maintaining a desirable shape, promoting good air circulation, and encouraging fruit production. Prune after the fruiting season to remove dead or diseased branches and to shape the canopy. By providing optimal conditions, your mango tree care will be rewarded with delicious fruit.

Size & Details

This offering is for one lemon zest mango tree, a healthy, grafted specimen that stands approximately 1 foot tall from the base of the pot. It is shipped securely in a 6-inch nursery pot, complete with its established root system. The tree is ready to be transplanted into a larger container or directly into the ground, depending on your climate and growing preferences. Being a grafted plant, it will maintain the genetic characteristics of the ‘Lemon Zest’ variety, ensuring you get the authentic sweet and citrusy fruit. Expect a moderate growth rate, with the tree potentially reaching 10-15 feet in height in the ground if not pruned, or a more compact size when grown in a container. Fruiting typically begins within 2-4 years after planting from this grafted size, offering a relatively quick turnaround to harvest. The initial fruit set will be light, increasing as the tree matures. With proper care, this grafted mango plant will become a productive and cherished part of your garden for many years.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: This lemon zest mango tree is shipped as a 1-foot tall grafted plant. In the ground, with proper conditions and without pruning, it can reach heights of 10-15 feet. When grown in a container, its size can be managed through regular pruning to keep it more compact, typically 6-8 feet tall.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: The lemon zest mango tree will arrive in a 6-inch nursery pot, providing a stable environment for its initial growth. Upon arrival, it’s recommended to transplant it into a larger pot (e.g., 5-gallon or larger) or directly into the ground to allow for root expansion and continued development.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Lemon Zest mango tree is a tropical plant best suited for outdoor growing in USDA Zones 9-11. In colder climates, it can be grown as an indoor plant or in a container that can be moved indoors during winter months to protect it from frost.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: For optimal growth and fruit production, this grafted mango plant requires full sun exposure, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. If growing indoors, place it in the brightest available location, such as a south-facing window, or use supplemental grow lighting.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? Is it good for beginners? A: While mango tree care requires attention to light, water, and fertilization, the Lemon Zest variety is generally considered a good choice for those with some gardening experience. New gardeners can certainly succeed with proper research and consistent care, especially if growing in a suitable climate or a well-managed container.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your lemon zest mango tree will be carefully packaged and shipped as a live, healthy plant in its 6-inch pot, with a well-established root system. We take great care to ensure it arrives in the best possible condition, ready for its new home.
• Q: How long until it blooms and fruits? A: As a grafted plant, this lemon zest mango tree typically begins to bloom and produce fruit within 2-4 years after planting, much faster than trees grown from seed. The first harvests will be lighter, increasing in quantity as the tree matures.
• Q: What’s the minimum temperature this tree can tolerate? A: Lemon Zest mango trees are sensitive to cold. They can tolerate brief dips to around 40°F (4°C), but prolonged exposure to temperatures below this can cause damage or even be fatal. It is crucial to protect them from frost.
• Q: Can I grow this variety in a small garden? A: Yes, the lemon zest mango tree can be suitable for smaller gardens. Its size can be effectively managed through regular pruning, which also helps maintain a desirable shape and encourages better fruit production. It’s also an excellent candidate for container growing on patios or balconies.
• Q: What makes the Lemon Zest mango unique? A: The primary uniqueness of the Lemon Zest mango lies in its distinctive flavor profile. It’s highly prized for its sweet, tangy taste with a pronounced citrusy aroma, reminiscent of lemon and sometimes tangerine, setting it apart from other mango varieties.