Description

Characteristics of Key Lime Trees

The Key Lime, also called Mexican Key Lime, is well-known for its use in making Key lime pie. Because it adapts well to growing in containers indoors or outdoors, the Key lime tree is a favorite for growing citrus at home. In temperate climates it may be planted in the ground.

This is the perfect plant to accent your patio—with the bonus of fresh limes! Enjoy attractive green leaves, beautiful pinkish white blossoms, and fragrant flowers, followed by fresh, floral citrus. These limes are prized for baking delicious Key Lime pies, first made popular in the Florida Keys. They are also used in tropical cocktails, savory marinades, and refreshing limeades.

Homesteaders will enjoy preserving an abundance of fruit. These lovely citrus trees may bloom again while the fruit is still growing, allowing for continuous harvesting!

About the Fruit

Mexican Key limes are small, and the peels are thin. The ripe fruit is yellow or yellowish green, and it is highly acidic with the distinctive smell of lime. Each lime takes six to nine months to ripen. Limes are high in vitamin C and the antioxidant phytonutrients known as flavanones.

Growing Key Lime Trees

Grown in the ground, the trees can reach up to twelve feet tall. In a garden pot, the tree’s height will be reduced by the size of the pot. Pruning is not typically needed, except for shaping the tree. Key limes are self-pollinating fruit trees, so outdoor trees will produce fruit by natural means. Indoor trees can be pollinated by hand using a small paintbrush.

These citrus trees require moist, but not wet, soil, and should be watered deeply, but not frequently. The soil pH should be neutral. With regular fertilizing, you can have your first harvest within a couple of years!

Key lime trees require full sun. The trees are heat tolerant, but not cold-hardy, so if you live outside of the recommended growing zones, be sure to treat them as houseplants before freezing temperatures arrive by bringing the patio plants indoors.

Key limes are not often found in grocery stores in the United States; they are more widely available in Mexico and the Caribbean. To enjoy your favorite recipes using Key limes, you will love growing your own! Buy a Mexican Key lime tree and enjoy this beautiful plant and its delicious fruit!

Survival Guaranteed!

Since 1816, Stark Bro’s has promised to provide customers with the very best fruit trees and plants. It’s just that simple. If your trees or plants do not survive, please let us know within one year of delivery. We will send you a free one-time replacement, with a nominal shipping fee of $9.99. If the item in question is not available, we can issue a one-time credit to your account equaling the original product purchase price or issue you a refund. Read more about our warranty policy.

Characteristics

Bloom Color Pink, White
Fruit Color Green
Fruit Size Small
Hardiness Zone Range 2 - 11, Outdoor Planting: 8 - 11
Pollination Self-Pollinating
Shade/Sun Full Sun
Soil Composition Loamy
Soil Moisture Well Drained - Average Moistness
Soil pH Level 6.0 - 7.0
Taste Tart
Texture Firm, Juicy
Years to Bear 1 - 2

Size & Spacing

Mature Size

When your tree matures, it will be approximately 6 - 12' tall x 5 - 8' wide.

Recommended Spacing

We recommend spacing these trees 5 - 8' apart to ensure room for growth.

Zone Compatibility

This Variety's Zone Range 2 - 11 Outdoors: 8 - 11
My Hardiness Zone ?
The USDA hardiness zones offer a guide to varieties that will grow well in certain climates. Each zone corresponds to the minimum winter temperatures experienced in a given area. Make sure that your hardiness zone lies within the zone compatibility range of this variety before ordering.
This item can be grown in colder climates if it's planted in a container and brought indoors during the winter months. If you're planting it outdoors in the ground, we recommend being within the outdoor zone range.

Pollination

This variety is self pollinating.

In many cases, you may still want to plant pollinating partners to increase the size of your crops, but with self-pollinating varieties doing so is optional. You'll get fruit with only one plant!

Tools & Supplies

Having the proper tools and supplies when growing your own can make the difference between a good harvest and a great harvest! Here's a list that our experts recommend for this variety.

Planting & Care

Learn all about how to grow citrus trees in The Growing Guide. An entire section of our website dedicated to your growing success.

Shipping Information

Arrives when it's time to plant

Your success is our priority. We work hard to make sure that your order arrives at the ideal time for planting in your location based on your local climate conditions.

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Questions & Answers

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105 Questions
Why did you choose this?

I just want the ability to have Limes anytime I want them. Having 3 or more Lime plants lets this come to fruition for me with their growing cycle.

I need one.

I have one successful lime tree in A pot so I want to grow another one

Stark stands behind their products,,,,guaranteed for 1 year…..

Can I keep a lemon and a lime tree to about 4' tall x 3' dia? I have a small outdoor area that I would like to grow them. Thanks.

Hi, Michael. Sure you can. We've even seen people bonsai them. They respond well to pruning and are easy to maintain.

Can a key lime tree pollinate a meyer lemon tree?

Citrus is self pollinating and does not require a partner.

One species cannot pollinate another; for example, a plum cannot pollinate an apple, and a pear cannot pollinate a peach or lemon with lime . A fruit tree that requires a pollinator needs a different variety of the same species that has a similar bloom time.

I've had mine for two years and he's still looking quite pitiful. In fact, he doesn't look like he's grown at all, but is green and has leaves. He's outside all summer, but winters indoors. Any advice?

Slow release citrus tree fertilizer. Use it a couple times a year on your tree. Even if kept outside they need fertilizer a couple times a year. Once a month in spring, summer, and early fall. Do not fertilize until you see signs of growth. Only fertilize 3 to 4 times a year if your tree is older than 3 years old.q Their fertilizer MUST be high in nitrogen with a NPK ratio of 2-1-1. Considering your tree is 2 years old, feed it slow release citrus tree fertilizer once a month in spring, summer, and early fall, when it shows growth. And give it a drink when it is dry. Do not overwater it. And if the temperature is going to be below 35 degrees Fahrenheit cover it for the night with a sheet or take it inside your house.

Dose he come looking like the picture like a plant already?

No they come looking quite pitiful and barren but don't you worry with good soil, sun and water it will be lovely in no time.

I want to know who came up with the packaging idea for these plants?  If the purpose of affixing the plastic wrap to the pot was to keep the soil in the pot, IT WAS A BIG FAIL!  There was dirt all over the box and the cardboard slots that were shoved in the box did nothing to help.  The plants didn't move in box but it didn't keep the soil from falling out of the hap-hazard plastic wrapping.  So besides losing half the soil in the pots, it was a pain to get the plastic wrap loose from the pots!!! COMPLETE MESS!  PLEASE COME UP WITH ANOTHER METHOD OF WRAPPING THESE PLANTS!

We are very sorry your plants arrived in this condition. We will pass this information along to our shipping department if you find that your nursery stock does not survive please reach back out to us and we will make it right.

Do these key limes have seeds?

Yes, has seeds. But it is a Philippine lemon, not key lime.

What to do with winter and putting inside with no sur?

Hi Mike, This is a great question. Citrus trees do not go dormant like many other plants, so they need sufficient light and some humidity during the winter. They do best by a window that gets sunlight and that is not drafty. You'll want supplemental light for fruit production if the plants do not receive at least 6 hours of direct light daily. I hope this helps!

Are the key limes seeded?

We would say they are virtually seedless, meaning you may come across a seed here or there.

Are any of your trees thorn free?

Authentic Key Lime trees have thorns ... it's the price you pay for that great flavor. Thornless citrus varieties are sorely lacking in flavor and citrus "zing".

Do I need to take this tree indoors for the winter ?

It really depends on where you live. I live in the Pacific NW and bring mine in for the winter because citrus isn't compatible with the winter weather here.

Customer Reviews

197 Ratings
4.1out of 5 stars
197 Ratings

Rated 5 stars by 61% of reviewers

Rated 4 stars by 17% of reviewers

Rated 3 stars by 7% of reviewers

Rated 2 stars by 5% of reviewers

Rated 1 star by 11% of reviewers

1-10 of 197 Reviews
Rated 5 out of 5
Jul 21, 2025
The Lime Light
Shipping was great. Plant received in good health. Don't have any limes yet but the plant seems to thriving with plenty of new growth. Looks promising.
Rated 5 out of 5
Jun 12, 2025
beautiful little plant, use a big pot for more production
has produced two entire limes, but I have low expectations as it's in a small pot in an unsuitable climate! flowers intensely and has very strong growth and limbs. it arrived healthy and has stayed that way.
Rated 5 out of 5
May 24, 2025
Beautiful
My little baby key lime came in so healthy and beautiful! I'm happy with my purchase.
Rated 5 out of 5
Nov 18, 2024
I love it!
My little lime tree arrived safely packed and undamaged! It's a lovely, healthy tree. I don't think it even lost a single leaf in the process, and I will definitely order from Stark's again.
Rated 5 out of 5
Nov 18, 2024
It seemed fine when I received it. I think I killed it, so I never asked for a replacement. These guys are awesome I love them.
Rated 5 out of 5
Oct 8, 2024
Fruit in year one!
Arrived in good condition. Good growth first year. One lime about 3/4" in diameter and growing. Will bring tree in within the week for winter. Excellent!
Rated 5 out of 5
Oct 8, 2024
Grows slowly but looks great
Since I live in a colder area, I got this tree with the understanding that it would be indoors for half the year. It is still somewhat tiny but it looks good in the house. I will be curious to see when it renders fruit.
Rated 5 out of 5
Oct 7, 2024
Healthy stock
It loved being outside all summer. Just brought it in. It has at least 9 (maybe more) limes growing!
Rated 5 out of 5
Sep 11, 2024
Super fast grower
Love this little tree. When we received the Key Lime in the early summer, it was just over a foot tall. Now its late summer and It has since tripled in size. No fruit yet but I'm expecting next season to be a winner. Best grower in the yard.
Rated 5 out of 5
Sep 10, 2024
Love My Key Lime Tree
The Key Lime Tree was the second purchase I made from Stark Bro's. The Key Lime tree came in great shape, though there was dirt all over the box that came out of the container. I put the tree outside on my deck for a month, and then transplanted it into a bit larger container. Three months after that I've transplanted it into a 25-gallon container that will be its permanent home. The tree is flourishing, and I see new growth all over it. I have fertilized it a bit, but not too much. I plan to keep this tree trimmed and on the side of my deck next to a Meyer Lemon tree in the same container. I'm very excited to have both of these trees in my yard.