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Mexican Key lime fruit growing on a citrus tree

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 sizeUsually 10–20 ft tall and wide; rootstock and pruning change final size
Climate fitUrban core · USDA 9b–10a · Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b · Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b
Special categoriesEDIBLE
Hardiness guidanceUSDA 10–11 or a reliably protected microclimate
Winter chillNone
Typical harvestMain crop around September, with fruit possible beyond it

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. 1

    Verify both the named cultivar and rootstock on the nursery tag before planting.

  2. 2

    Whitewash newly exposed bark and protect cold-sensitive trees during hard freezes.

  3. 3

    Feed in several light applications during the active season rather than one heavy dose.

  4. 4

    Let fruit color and flavor—not a calendar date alone—confirm harvest readiness.

Seasonal availability

Find it through the community order.

Offered through Permascaping’s seasonal wholesale citrus preorder; exact sizes, rootstocks, and inventory change each year.