Wholesale citrus

Mexican Key lime

Citrus × aurantiifolia

Also known as Key lime · Mexican lime

The small, intensely aromatic culinary lime; extremely frost sensitive and best reserved for the warmest protected microclimate.

EdibleCulinary limeAromaticVery frost 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

Hardiness guidance

USDA 10–11 or a reliably protected microclimate

Winter chill

None

Typical harvest

Main crop around September, with fruit possible beyond it

Before you plant

These conditions determine whether it will thrive.

Required microclimate

Placement is part of the growing system.

Zone C — morning shade, hot afternoon sun, at the west end of the sunnier south-facing side. The extra heat finishes the fruit, and the wall releases warmth through frosty nights.

Cold hardiness

Cover on every frost night

Among the most cold-tender citrus. Damage starts around 28°F, and the high 20s can kill it. Cover it on any frost night and plant it against a south or west wall.

Leaves and wood: damaged below 28°F · Blossoms and fruit: below 29°F

Heat tolerance

Takes full sun and heat

Loves heat and takes full sun, even west sun. Paint or shade any bare trunk, since young bark sunburns.

Sources:

extension.arizona.edu , citrusvariety.ucr.edu , galveston.agrilife.org

Right plant, right place

Will Mexican Key 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

Pies, drinks, marinades, and fresh juice

Planting & stewardship

How to help Mexican Key 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 ↗