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Growth
Lemon Tree Growing Unusually Thorny
Commonly affects: Citrus limon (Lemon Tree)
The tree, especially young growth, develops noticeably long, sharp thorns, more prominent than the grower expected.
Potential Causes
- 1A completely normal characteristic of many lemon varieties, particularly on young trees and vigorous new growth, which naturally thins out as the tree matures
- 2Rootstock growth (if the tree is grafted) sometimes being thornier than the grafted variety above it, if rootstock suckers are allowed to grow
- 3Not a sign of disease or a problem needing treatment in most cases
Solution Steps
- 1Accept thorniness on young growth as normal citrus behaviour that typically reduces as the tree matures
- 2Prune away any growth arising from below the graft union (rootstock suckers), since this growth is usually thornier and won't produce the desired fruit
- 3Handle the tree carefully with gloves during pruning given the thorns, rather than trying to eliminate them
Prevention Tip
Prominent thorns on young lemon growth are simply normal citrus behaviour, not a sign of a problem â they typically become less pronounced as the tree matures.
