Lime Leaf (Citrus hystrix) is grown mainly for its fragrant leaves, which are used in Southeast Asian cooking like Bay leaves are in Mediterranean cuisines. Added to stews and sauces early in the cooking process, the exotic leaves impart a subtle, pervasive citrus flavor and aroma to many Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Malaysian dishes. The fruits' knobby rind is used to flavor curry pastes and soups.
The leaves of Citrus hystrix are best used fresh, but they can also be stored in the freezer in resealable plastic bags. Use the leaves in sauces, stews, and marinades, adding whole leaves early in the process and removing them before serving the dish. The rind of the Lime Leaf fruit, rather than the flesh or juice, is also used in cooking. It has the same flavor found in the leaves. Simply zest the rind, and add it to dishes. For specific recipes, look in Indonesian, Malaysian, Vietnamese, and Thai cookbooks. Another common name for Lime Leaf is Kaffir Lime.
Our Citrus plants are grafted onto dwarfing rootstocks, so their heights are manageable, yet the quality of their juicy, tangy fruit is undiminished. Gardeners in Zone 10 can expect them to reach 6ft tall or more when planted in the ground. Elsewhere in the country, Dwarf Citrus should be grown in containers and will stay smaller, eventually reaching 4–5ft. In cold climates, containers may be moved outside during summer to a sunny spot protected from the wind, then brought back indoors before frost. Shipped as vigorous, 24in branched plants in a 10in terra-cotta pot with saucer.
Every state has agricultural regulations that restrict the shipment of certain plants. We're sorry, but we cannot ship this item to the following states: AZ, CA, FL, and TX.
