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 a popular choice for home gardens and orchards due to their intoxicating fragrance, refreshing flavor, and tropical allure. But with so many different varieties, it can be tricky to identify lime trees just by appearance.
In this complete visual guide, we’ll walk through the key features that distinguish lime trees from other citrus. By the end, you’ll be able to spot a lime tree with confidence!
Lime Tree Leaves
The leaves are the easiest way to ID a lime tree. They have a distinctly oval or elliptical shape, ranging from 1-3 inches long. The leaf edges are smooth and the 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. In the tropics, where temperatures remain constant, the lime peel stays green when ripe.
The smooth, thin rind surrounds juicy, sour pulp and just a few small seeds. Unique varieties like finger limes and kaffir limes have bumpy, textured peels.
Blood limes have bright red flesh, Rangpur limes are orange inside, and calamansi limes look like tiny oranges. But most limes are some shade of green inside.
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 low on the trunk. But on mature, 10-15 foot trees, 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 sun daily. 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 spot them by sight!
Key Lime Tree (Citrus aurantifolia)
The key lime is a small, bushy evergreen tree that grows 8-15 feet tall. It has slender, thorny branches and smooth gray bark.
The leaves are oval, 1-2 inches long, with a rounded tip. They are glossy green above and paler below.
Key lime flowers are white with a faint purple blush along the petal edges. They bloom in small clusters.
The fruits are oval, about 1 inch wide. They turn from green to yellowish-green when ripe. Key limes are juicy and very tart.
Key limes thrive in zones 9-11. They prefer sandy, well-drained soil and warm climates.
Persian Lime Tree (Citrus x latifolia)
The Persian lime is a medium-sized evergreen tree reaching 15-20 feet tall. It has few thorns and grayish-brown bark.
The leaves are broad, elliptical, and dark green. They are 2-3 inches long with smooth edges.
Persian lime flowers are small, white and mildly fragrant. They bloom in clusters along twigs.
The fruit is oval, 1.5-2 inches wide. It turns from green to pale yellow when ripe. Persian limes are mostly seedless and quite juicy.
Persian limes grow best in zones 9-11. They need full sun and fertile, well-draining soil.
Kaffir Lime Tree (Citrus hystrix)
The Kaffir lime is a bushy evergreen shrub or small tree up to 15 feet tall. It has drooping, thorny branches.
The leaves are glossy green, oval, and double compound with “winged” stems. They are highly aromatic.
Kaffir lime flowers are small, white, and fragrant. They bloom in clusters along the branchlets.
The fruit is round, rough, and bumpy. It turns from green to yellow when ripe. The rind has a distinct, citrusy aroma.
Kaffir limes thrive in zones 10-12. They prefer humid, tropical climates and need shelter from frost.
Rangpur Lime Tree (Citrus x limonia)
The Rangpur lime is a small evergreen tree 15-20 feet high with slender, thorny branches. The bark is smooth gray-brown.
Leaves are oval with a purple blush along margins when young. Mature leaves are dull green.
Flowers are small, white, and tinged pink. They have a light, mandarin orange fragrance.
Fruit is round, 1-2 inches wide. The peel is orange-yellow at maturity while pulp is orange-pink and very juicy.
Rangpurs grow best in zones 9-11. They need full sun, humidity, and protection from frost when young.
So now you can identify the most common lime trees at a glance! Look for the oval or elliptical leaves, white blossoms, small round green fruits, and thorny branches. With this handy visual guide, spotting a lime tree in any garden is easy.
Limes: origin and characteristics
Just like lemons (Citrus x limon) and oranges (Citrus sinensis), all lime tree species belong to the Citrus genus in the rue family, Rutaceae. The Persian lime most likely originates from today’s Iran and Iraq and has been cultivated for centuries in many subtropical and tropical regions around the world.
Lime trees grow differently depending on the species. The most commonly cultivated lime, the Persian lime, is an evergreen, as is the key lime. However, in our part of the world, where it is often darker and colder, these lime trees have no other choice but to go dormant to conserve resources. This can cause leaf discolouration and even leaf loss.
In their natural habitat, lime trees can grow up to six metres tall. In the UK, they only grow two to three metres tall in a planter. Key lime trees grow more compact and denser than Persian lime trees, making them easier to care for as a potted plant.
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Limes are not only great in cocktails – these citrus fruits are also sub-lime in a variety of dishes. Did you know there are numerous varieties of lime trees? Find out all about this delicious citrus fruit.
The small, typically green fruits we name limes at the supermarket are actually a collection of several species of the citrus genus. The limes grown for the UK market are usually the Persian lime or Tahiti lime (Citrus x latifolia) and come primarily from Mexico, Brazil and Spain. You may also come across key limes (Citrus x aurantiifolia), also known as Mexican limes or West Indian limes. Discover where limes come from originally, the difference between lemons and limes and some of the many different lime varieties.
Growing a Lime Tree | EVERYTHING You Need To Know
FAQ
How do I know if I have a lime tree?
Lime trees have leaves similar to that of a lemon tree, but longer and shinier. The leaves on a lime tree also grow more separately.Nov 6, 2021
How many years does it take for a lime tree to produce fruit?
Lime trees produce fruit in around three years. Plus, the tree is pretty to look at, bedecked with petite, ovular leaves and delicate white flowers.
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 does a lime tree look like?
Otherwise known as the West Indian or Mexican lime, the latter of which is a tri-hybrid of three citron plant species. The tree – Moderately-sized, bushy tree with spindly, thorny branches. The tree forms a dome-like canopy and has smooth, dark brown bark. The leaves are oval and dark-green in color; they look akin to those of the orange tree.
What is the best type of lime?
Key Lime is considered to be the best tasting lime. Key Lime is one of the most typical varieties of limes. It has a more yellow shade on the skin than most other limes, and its acidic juice is high quality with a sweet and sour flavor.
What does a Thai lime tree look like?
The tree grows up to 25 feet in height and it has fruit that gets up to two inches in diameter. Its rind is bumpy and it is green in color, but the fruit itself is very acidic and usually has very little juice. The Thai lime is usually used in cooking, where it is normally grated or diced first, then added to specific dishes.
How tall does a lime tree grow?
Because it is a hybrid it grows rapidly and can reach 40m in height. This tree can easily be confused with the Broad-leaved Lime. The Common Lime flowers after the Broad-leaved Lime, usually in July.
What does a blood lime tree look like?
Blood Lime Tree Also called the Australian blood lime tree, the lime itself is a cross between a red finger lime and a mandarin, which is what gives it its red-orange color. In fact, it is mostly red or burgundy in color, although occasionally it comes out as a typical green color like other limes.
What does a finger lime look like?
Finger limes are long and slender, filled with lots of round juicy pulp bits. Source: Premshree Pillai The Australian finger lime or Microcitrus australasica is also known as the caviar lime for the small spherical insides of the fruit, called vesicles, and ooze out once a ripe finger lime has been cut into.