Though most citrus plants find the Pacific NW winters too cold to survive, much less bear fruit, the Meyer Improved Lemon seems to grow readily in large container planters in the Portland area when given full sun from spring up until fall. Fragrant flowers appear in the late spring and continue throughout the growing season, turning into orangey-yellow, thin-skinned fruits in the fall. A cross between a lemon and a mandarin orange, Meyer Improved lemons are not as acidic as true lemons and are quite juicy.

Bring this specimen indoors once the temps drop below 40 degrees. While flowers may continue to appear, you'll need to use a small paintbrush to distribute pollen from one flower to another to encourage fruit production. This practice isn't necessary when growing outdoors. During the winter months, watch out for mites or aphids and treat the foliage with  insecticidal soap