Key lime
Citrus aurantiifolia · Rutaceae
⚠️ La pulpe mûre est comestible. Feuilles, tiges, écorce et peau du fruit contiennent des huiles essentielles et psoralènes pouvant causer troubles digestifs ou irritation chez chiens et chats.
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around key lime and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Flowering
- April to May, fragrant white flowers
- Adult size
- 3 to 4 m in height
- Growth
- Moderate to fast
- Hardiness
- Frost-sensitive, prefers warm climates (min. 5 °C)
- Origin
- Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia)
- Soil type
- Well-draining, rich in organic matter
- Fruits
- Persian limes, rich in vitamin C
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
Lime requires true full sun (at least 6 hours direct) and well-draining soil in a pot or light earth. Water generously during growth (March-September), reduce in winter.
The common mistake
Growing it indoors with heating year-round: no flowering, no fruit.
The pro's trick
If you're in a mild climate, plant it in the ground with mulch: it fruits much better.
Care
Watering
Water regularly during the growing season (spring-summer) to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Reduce watering in winter. When potted, make sure water drains well and doesn't stagnate at the bottom. Avoid alternating dry-wet cycles, which stress the tree.
Light exposure
Place your lime tree in full sun (at least 6 to 8 hours a day) for good fruiting. Indoors, choose a spot near a south or southwest-facing window. Insufficient light slows growth and limits fruit production.
Pruning and shaping
Prune lightly after harvest to maintain a harmonious shape and improve air circulation. Remove dead or diseased branches, as well as overly vertical shoots. Heavy pruning affects fruiting the following year.
Fertilising
Apply a balanced fertiliser or citrus-specific fertiliser in spring and summer, roughly once a month. Reduce applications in autumn-winter. A fertiliser slightly richer in potassium promotes fruit quality and yield.
Soil and repotting
Use well-draining substrate (potting soil, compost, perlite). Repot every 2 to 3 years in spring into a slightly larger pot. Ensure optimal drainage to prevent root rot.
Pests and diseases
Watch for scale insects, spider mites and aphids, which are common in warm or dry climates. Indoors, good air circulation limits attacks. Early treatment with soapy water often suffices. Avoid excess humidity, which encourages fungal issues.
Did you know?
The Persian lime is actually a citrus hybrid of uncertain origin, likely from crosses between the lemon and orange trees, selected in Persia and then spread by Arab navigators. It conquered the Caribbean in the 17th century, where British sailors used it against scurvy, hence the nickname 'limey' for Englishmen. Today, it's a staple of tropical cuisine and cocktails worldwide.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
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- Mastic-leaf prickly ashZanthoxylum schinifolium
- Amur Cork TreePhellodendron amurense
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.