Lime - Key Lime Bush
Original price
$29.00
-
Original price
$99.00
Original price
$99.00
$29.00
$29.00
-
$59.00
Current price
$29.00
Key Lime Bush (Citrus aurantiifolia) Growing and Care Guide
- Taste of the Fruit: The Key Lime is famous for its intensely aromatic, bright, and distinctly tart flavor with a fragrant floral and spicy undertone that sets it apart from Persian limes. The small, thin-skinned fruit is extremely juicy with a high acid content and distinctive zesty bite, delivering a classic “true lime” taste that is both sharp and refreshingly complex; it is the gold standard for Key lime pie, cocktails, marinades, dressings, and gourmet cooking, where its unique aromatic oils provide far more character than larger, milder commercial limes.
- Botanical Name and Common Names: The botanical name is Citrus aurantiifolia (sometimes listed as Citrus × aurantiifolia). Common names include Key Lime, Mexican Lime, West Indian Lime, Bartender’s Lime, and True Lime. The “Improved” or “Seedless” selections commonly sold today are the standard nursery stock.
- Average Height and Growth Rate: When grown and maintained as a bush (usually on dwarfing or semi-dwarf rootstock and kept pruned), a Key Lime Bush typically reaches an average height of 6–10 feet tall and wide, though unpruned plants can grow 12–15 feet. The growth rate is fast and vigorous, especially in warm, humid conditions, with young grafted bushes often flowering and fruiting within 1–2 years after planting.
- Best Growing Environment and Sun Requirements: Key Lime Bushes thrive in warm subtropical and tropical climates with well-draining, slightly acidic soil (pH 6.0–7.0) rich in organic matter. They demand full sun with at least 8 hours (ideally 8–10 hours) of direct sunlight daily for heavy flowering, fruit production, and maximum flavor intensity; excellent air circulation is important to reduce fungal diseases common in humid areas.
- USDA Zone and Cold Hardiness: The Key Lime Bush is recommended for USDA Hardiness Zones 9–11. It is the least cold-hardy of common citrus, tolerating only brief dips to about 28–32F with protection; temperatures below 28F can damage leaves, fruit, and young wood. In marginal climates it is best grown in large containers that can be moved indoors or to a protected area during cold snaps.
- Water Requirements: These bushes prefer deep, infrequent watering to encourage strong roots while keeping the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged—superior drainage is critical to prevent root rot. Newly planted or container-grown bushes may require watering 2–3 times per week during hot, dry weather, while established in-ground plants generally need thorough deep watering every 7–10 days in the growing season; reduce frequency in cooler months, allowing the top 1–2 inches of soil to dry slightly between waterings.
- Planting Guide: Plant Key Lime Bushes in spring after the last frost risk has passed (or in fall in warmer zones) in a sunny, well-drained location. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper, backfilling with native soil amended for drainage or a citrus-specific potting mix in containers of at least 15–25 gallons with multiple drainage holes. Space in-ground bushes 6–10 feet apart; apply a 2–4 inch layer of organic mulch around the base (kept several inches away from the trunk) to conserve moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weeds.
- Fertilizing Times of Year with Specific Recommended Fertilizer: Fertilize Key Lime Bushes three times per year during the active growing season—typically in late winter/early spring (February, before bloom), late spring (May), and early summer (June)—to support continuous flowering and fruit production without encouraging tender growth vulnerable to cold. Use a balanced citrus-specific fertilizer such as a slow-release 6-4-6, 8-3-9, or 7-4-4 formula enriched with micronutrients (magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, and calcium); apply according to label rates based on tree size, water deeply after each application, and avoid fertilizing from late fall through mid-winter.