Wholesale citrus

Makrut lime

Citrus hystrix

Also known as Kaffir lime · Kaffir · Thai lime leaf

Grown for its glossy double leaves, the lime leaf of Thai and Southeast Asian cooking, and for the bumpy fruit's zest. The leaves are the crop, so it earns its place in a pot by the kitchen too.

EdibleCulinary leavesContainer friendlyFrost sensitive

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Landscape layersLower canopy

Mature size

Usually 10–20 ft tall and wide; rootstock and pruning change final size

Climate fit

Urban core · USDA 9b–10a · Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b · Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b

Special categories

EDIBLE

Winter chill

None

Typical harvest

Leaves all year; fruit fall and winter

Before you plant

These conditions determine whether it will thrive.

Required microclimate

Placement is part of the growing system.

Zone A — morning sun, afternoon shade, at the east end of the sunnier south-facing side. Shields thin skin and variegated foliage from west sun, and gives blood oranges the cooler afternoons they need to color.

Cold hardiness

Cover on every frost night

No trusted figure exists for makrut, a tropical species. Treat it like the most tender limes, with damage around 28°F. Cover it on any frost night or grow it in a pot you can move.

Leaves and wood: damaged below 28°F

Heat tolerance

Shade from late-afternoon sun

No trusted heat data exists for makrut. Since you harvest the leaves, morning sun with afternoon shade keeps the foliage in the best shape.

Sources:

citrusvariety.ucr.edu , galveston.agrilife.org

Right plant, right place

Will Makrut lime grow at your Arizona property?

Plant in fast-draining soil with the graft union above grade. Keep mulch away from the trunk and avoid lawn irrigation at the root crown.

Best regional fit: Urban core · USDA 9b–10a, Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b, Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b.

Light

Sun exposure

Full sun; young trunks and exposed scaffold limbs need sunburn protection

Water

Irrigation

Deep, regular irrigation with drying between cycles; expand the wetted zone as the canopy grows

Fruit set

Pollination

Self-fruitful

Harvest

How to use it

Leaves for curries and soups; zest from the fruit

Planting & stewardship

How to help Makrut lime thrive

1
Verify both the named cultivar and rootstock on the nursery tag before planting.
2
Whitewash newly exposed bark and protect cold-sensitive trees during hard freezes.
3
Feed in several light applications during the active season rather than one heavy dose.
4
Let fruit color and flavor—not a calendar date alone—confirm harvest readiness.

Read the horticultural reference ↗