Key lime - White Flower Farm

Key Lime

Shipment begins in early September

The juice of Key Lime (Citrus aurantiifolia) gives a sparkling tang to pies as well as Mediterranean, Mexican, and Asian recipes (it will also spruce up any drink from ice-cold water to something stiffer). Although many people associate the Key Lime with Key West, Florida, it is native to Malaysia and is now grown all over the world in warm climates. The tree is fairly vigorous, somewhat bushy in habit, and has sharp thorns on its branches. The fruit is small and round, with a very thin, smooth rind that turns from dark green to greenish yellow or yellow when ripe. The flesh is also light greenish yellow and very juicy. Key Lime pie that looks green, not yellow, has been artificially colored. Mature plants produce fruit in August and September.

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.

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Every state has agricultural regulations that restrict the shipment of certain plants. We are sorry, but we cannot ship this item to the following states: AZ, CA, FL, TX.