description Perrine Lemon Overview
The Perrine lemon is a citrus hybrid developed by the United States Department of Agriculture by crossing the Mexican (Key) lime with the Genoa lemon. It was produced in the early twentieth century as part of efforts to breed citrus varieties with improved tolerance to cooler temperatures. The fruit is valued for greater cold-hardiness than standard lemon varieties, a trait inherited partly from its lime parentage. It remains of interest mainly in citrus cultivation and breeding contexts.
help Perrine Lemon FAQ
What two citrus varieties were crossed to create the Perrine lemon?
Perrine is a hybrid of the West Indian or Mexican lime and the Genoa lemon. The cross was made by W. T. Swingle and colleagues at the United States Department of Agriculture in 1909, and the variety was named and described in 1931. [UC Riverside Citrus Variety Collection](https://citrusvariety.ucr.edu/crc2458)
Why was the Perrine lemon developed?
The USDA citrus-breeding work aimed to produce useful hybrids for Florida conditions, including better disease performance and a lemon-lime fruit type. Perrine was not completely frost-proof, so it did not replace hardier commercial citrus varieties after severe freezes. [Perrine lemon information](https://specialtyproduce.com/produce/Perrine_Lemons_9979.php)
What does a Perrine lemon taste like?
The fruit has high acidity and a sweet-tart flavor that combines lemon and lime qualities. Its peel can ripen from green to golden yellow, and the Riverside collection records a main ripening season from October through December. [UC Riverside Citrus Variety Collection](https://citrusvariety.ucr.edu/crc2458) [Perrine lemon information](https://specialtyproduce.com/produce/Perrine_Lemons_9979.php)
Can I buy Perrine lemons at an ordinary supermarket?
Perrine is a rare citrus variety rather than a common supermarket lemon. The UC Riverside collection says it is not commercially available in California, while specialty produce references describe it as mainly a collector or specialty-grower fruit. [UC Riverside Citrus Variety Collection](https://citrusvariety.ucr.edu/crc2458)
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