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Citrus × aurantiifolia (F)

lime

Sold by 4 nurseries

  • Other common names lime
    Adam's apple

    Mexican lime

    see more

  • Synonyms Citrus × aurantiifolia

  • Family Rutaceae

  • Genus Citrus are typically evergreen shrubs or trees, frequently spiny, with simple, leathery, aromatic leaves, usually with winged stalks, and often fragrant white or pink-tinged flowers, followed by large, juicy fruits

  • Details C. × aurantiifolia is a spiny evergreen shrub or small tree with aromatic, glossy green leaves and fragrant white flowers in late spring or summer, followed by rounded green or greenish-yellow fruit (limes) 4-6cm across

  • Plant range Tropical Asia

Characteristics

  • Foliage Evergreen

  • Habit Bushy

  • Fragrance Flower

  • Hardiness

    Hardiness ratings

    All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

    • H1a - Under glass all year (>15C)
    • H1b - Can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
    • H1c - Can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
    • H2 - Tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
    • H3 - Hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
    • H4 - Hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
    • H5 - Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
    • H6 - Hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
    • H7 - Hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

    H2

Colour

Sunlight

  • Full Sun

  • Partial Shade

  • Aspect South-facing or West-facing

  • Exposure Sheltered

Soil

  • Loam

    Loam

  • MoistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained

  • SoilLoam

  • pHAcid, Neutral

Size

  • Ultimate height 2.5-4 metres

  • Ultimate spread 1.5-2.5 metres

  • Time to ultimate height 20-50 years

How to grow

Cultivation Under glass, grow in loam-based potting compost such as John Innes No 2 with added grit for drainage in full light, shaded from hot sun. Water freely in growth, mist daily and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser every 2-3 weeks. Once frosts have passed container grown citrus can be stood outside for the summer until autumn. Further citrus cultivation advice

Propagation Propagate by seed at 16°C in spring; seedlings do not come true to type. Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types Patio & Container Plants

How to care

Pruning Pruning group 1

Pests Glasshouse red spider mite, glasshouse whitefly, scale insects and mealybugs under glass

Diseases Generally disease free

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