At home on a country estate or deep in the wild, this lime is common in name only. It’s a hybrid between the small-leaved and large-leaved lime, and is a particular favourite of aphids and their many predators.
A hybrid between small-leaved and large-leaved lime, common lime has characteristics of both species. The bark is pale grey-brown and irregularly ridged, with characteristic large burrs and leaf shoots at the base of the tree. Twigs are slender and brown, although they become red in the sun.
Look out for: the heart-shaped leaves which have white-cream hairs in the base of the vein on the underside.Identified in winter by: the red twigs which are hairy. The red-pink buds are longer than 4mm and only have 2–3 scales.
Lime trees are one of my favorite citrus plants. With their lush green leaves, fragrant white blooms and tart green fruits they add beauty and utility to any garden. But with dozens of lime varieties out there, it can be tricky to identify exactly what a lime tree looks like.
In this complete visual guide, I’ll walk you through the key features that set lime trees apart from other citrus. I’ll cover everything from leaf shape and flower appearance to fruit size and color. Read on to learn how to spot a lime tree just by looking at it!
Lime Tree Leaves
The leaves are one of the easiest ways to distinguish a lime tree. They have a distinctly oval or elliptical shape, ranging from 1-3 inches long. The leaf edges are smooth and the leaf tips are rounded or blunt, not pointed
Lime leaves are a shiny dark green on top, with a matte lighter green underside. They alternate along the stems and often have lightly toothed edges. Young lime leaves may have a reddish tinge before maturing to green.
Key lime leaves are smaller, around 1 inch long, with a more rounded shape Kaffir lime leaves are the most distinct – they are double compound leaves made up of three leaflets
Lime Tree Flowers
Lime flowers have a wonderfully sweet, citrusy scent. They grow in clusters of 2-10 flowers along the small branches.
The individual blooms are white with five petals and yellow stamens in the center. They can range from 1/2 inch to over 1 inch wide depending on the variety.
Flowers may have a light pink or purple tinge along the petal edges. They usually bloom in spring, but lime trees in tropical climates may flower year-round.
Lime Tree Fruits
The fruits are what really set lime trees apart. Limes are smaller than lemons, typically 1-2 inches wide. They are round or oval-shaped, not elongated.
Unripe limes start out green, then turn yellow as they ripen. However, the fruits we buy in stores are often picked prematurely and remain green. Key limes stay yellow-green when ripe.
The smooth, thin rind surrounds juicy, sour pulp and a few small seeds. Unique varieties like finger limes and kaffir limes have bumpy, textured peels.
Lime Tree Trunk and Branches
Lime trees have slender, twisting branches with thorns. The bark is smooth and grayish-brown. With age, it becomes rougher with small fissures.
On young trees, branches emerge from low on the trunk. But on mature trees 10-15 feet tall, clear branching doesn’t begin until several feet up the main trunk.
Bushy key lime trees reach just 8-12 feet tall at maturity. Their low branches spread out horizontally from a short trunk.
How Lime Trees Grow
Most lime varieties thrive in full sun and warm climates. They can be grown indoors in pots, but need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Outdoors, they require minimal winter protection.
Limes have shallow root systems and need well-draining soil. They are more sensitive to cold than other citrus trees. Key limes are the hardiest, surviving brief freezes.
With their glossy leaves, fragrant blooms, and tart fruits, lime trees make a delightful addition to any garden. Now that you know what to look for, you can easily identify them by sight.
The next time you see a citrus tree with green elliptical leaves, white flower clusters, and round green fruits, you can confidently call it a lime! Let their tangy flavor and tropical flair brighten up your garden.
Types of Lime Trees
There are several different varieties of lime trees, each with their own distinguishing features:
Key Lime
- Small, bushy tree 12-15 feet tall
- Oval leaves 1 inch long
- Clusters of small white flowers
- Round, greenish-yellow fruits 1-2 inches wide
Persian Lime
- Tall tree up to 20 feet
- Large, broad oval leaves
- White flowers tinged pink
- Oval fruits 2-2.5 inches wide
Kaffir Lime
- Compact dwarf tree
- Double compound leaves
- Clusters of fragrant white flowers with pink edges
- Bumpy, green fruits with aromatic rind
Rangpur Lime
- Medium tree 15-20 feet tall
- Dull green leaves with purplish edges
- Small white flowers with purple petals
- Small to medium orange-red fruits
As you can see, lime trees come in diverse shapes and sizes. But in general, look for glossy green elliptical leaves, white floral blooms, and small round sour fruits to identify a lime tree. The exact size and traits will depend on the specific variety.
Growing Conditions for Lime Trees
Lime trees need full sun and warm temperatures to thrive. Most varieties grow best in USDA zones 9-11, where winters stay mild. They can be grown in containers indoors if given ample sunlight.
These citrus trees have shallow root systems, so they require well-draining soil. Amend clay or dense soils with compost to improve drainage. Fertilize in spring and water regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.
Key limes are the most cold hardy, tolerating brief freezes. Other varieties need winter protection when grown outside their ideal climate zone. Bring potted trees indoors or protect with fabric covers.
With the right care, these tropical beauties can grow successfully both indoors and out. Just be sure to choose a variety suited to your gardening zone and conditions.
Caring for Lime Trees
To keep your lime tree thriving:
- Plant in well-draining soil amended with compost
- Fertilize 3-4 times per year with citrus fertilizer
- Water when top few inches of soil are dry
- Prune to shape in late winter
- Protect from frost and cold winds
- Harvest ripe limes when fully colored
Proper irrigation, nutrition, and sunlight are essential. Lime trees also need protection from freezing temperatures. With the right growing conditions, they will reward you with an abundance of juicy, flavorful fruits.
Using Lime Fruits
The sour juice and zest of fresh limes have endless uses for cooking, baking, and cocktails. Their bright citrus flavor enhances meat, fish, salsas, and tropical drinks.
Here are some of the most popular ways to use lime fruits:
- Squeeze lime juice over fajitas, ceviche, guacamole
- Mix into margaritas, mojitos, and other cocktails
- Use lime zest to add flavor to cakes, cookies, pies
- Make limeade or add to sparkling water for a refreshment
- Pickle sliced limes to garnish Bloody Mary drinks
- Candy lime slices for decorating desserts and beverages
Grow your own lime tree and you’ll have a ready supply of these versatile citrus fruits. Let the tangy lime juice and aromatic zest bring a tropical twist to your recipes.
The Benefits of Lime Trees
Beyond their culinary uses, lime trees offer many other benefits:
- Provide cooling shade with their dense foliage
- Purify the air and increase oxygen
- Attract pollinators with nectar-rich flowers
- Support bird populations with habitat and fruit
- Offer year-round visual interest with leaves, blooms, and fruit
- Lime juice contains antioxidant vitamin C, beneficial flavonoids, and immunity-boosting nutrients
For gardens in warm climates, lime trees make excellent additions. They satisfy visually, aromatically, and gastronomically!
With this guide, you now can recognize lime trees by their characteristic leaves, flowers, fruits, growth habit, and care needs. Look for oval green leaves, white blossoms tinged pink or purple, and small sour green fruits. Choose a variety suited to your climate and conditions for best results. Then enjoy the beauty and utility of lime trees in your landscape.
Not to be confused with:
Other limes and hybrids. It is possible to tell true species apart by looking at the underside of the leaf. Common lime (Tilia x europaea) has tufts of white hairs at the end of twigs, whereas in small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata) these are rusty red. Large-leaved lime (Tilia platyphyllos) has hairs all over the underside. Common lime is a hybrid and is rare in the wild in the UK.
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What does common lime look like?
Credit: Nature Photographers Ltd / WTML
Leaf buds are red, with one small scale and one large scale, resembling a boxing glove, and they form on long leaf stalks.
The leaves are dark green, heart-shaped and flimsy, measuring 6–10cm in length. They are lopsided and lobed at the base. Leaves are more or less hairless, except for creamy-buff or white hairs on the underside of the leaf between the joints of the veins. In autumn, leaves fade to a dull yellow before they fall.
Credit: Frank Hecker / Alamy Stock Photo
Limes are hermaphrodite, meaning both the male and female reproductive parts are contained within one flower. Flowers are white-yellow with five petals and hang in clusters of 2–5.
Credit: Nature Photographers Ltd / WTML
Once pollinated by insects, the flowers develop into round-oval, slightly ribbed fruits, with a pointed tip.
Growing a Lime Tree | EVERYTHING You Need To Know
FAQ
How do I tell if I have a lime tree?
… and lime trees is that the leaves of lemon trees are elongated and have smooth edges while those of lime trees are rough and heart-shaped with serrated edgesFeb 13, 2022
How many years does it take for a lime tree to produce fruit?
What are the disadvantages of a lime tree?
Common Lime Tilia x europaea
Tree: it makes a magnificent specimen but it has a number of drawbacks. Firstly it suckers profusely from the base of the trunk, making it look untidy and secondly, it is highly attractive to aphids, the sugary secretion from which rains down on anything beneath.
What do lime tree leaves look like?
Lime tree leaves are typically oval or heart-shaped, glossy, and dark green. They are generally smaller than lemon tree leaves, and can be distinguished by their slightly serrated edges.
What does a lime tree look like?
Key limes of the Rutaceae family are also known as the Mexican lime or the West Indian lime. Mexican lime is a tri-hybrid of three citron plant species of two different genera. Evergreen, small and bushy trees. Grows to a height of about 12 to 15 feet. A dark brown smooth bark. Compact-shaped trees. Oval-shaped, medium dark-green leaves.
What are the different types of lime trees?
Lime trees are hybrids of different types of citron plants. The type of plant species and the genus brings about the different types of lime trees. There are 4 main types of lime trees which include key limes (Citrus aurantifolia), tahiti lime tree (Citrus latifolia), Thai lime (Citrus hystrix), and Rangpur lime (Citrus × limonia).
What does a key lime tree look like?
The leaves are oval and dark-green in color; they look akin to those of the orange tree. Flowers – The tree blossoms in the spring and produces small white flowers with a purple tinge at the edge. They grow in clusters and radiate an intense fragrance. Fruits – Key limes are similar to the size and shape of a golf ball.
Which lime tree looks like a Mandarin?
Also known by two different names, the Ranpur lime tree or Mandarin lime tree looks more like a mandarin than a lime. The color of an orange both inside and out, the Citrus x. limonia osbeck originates from Bangladesh and can surprisingly be used interchangeably with fruits from other lime trees.
What type of fruit is a lime tree?
This type of citrus tree is from Australia and has a tubular dark green exterior about 3 in. long and a very pale green interior. This type of lime tree is new to the American market but is increasingly popular for its very strong taste. It’s increasingly common to find these fruits in cocktails and other gourmet drinks.
How big do lime trees get?
They can range from 1/2 inch to over 1 inch wide depending on the variety. Flowers may have a light pink or purple tinge along the petal edges. They usually bloom in spring, but lime trees in tropical climates may flower year-round. The fruits are what really set lime trees apart. Limes are smaller than lemons, typically 1-2 inches wide.