Gardening Edible Gardening Growing Fruit Lime By Viveka Neveln Viveka Neveln Instagram Viveka Neveln is the Garden Editor at BHG and a degreed horticulturist with broad gardening expertise earned over 3+ decades of practice and study. She has more than 20 years of experience writing and editing for both print and digital media. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on January 12, 2017 Share Tweet Pin Email Lime Overview Description Famous for adding a tropical taste to pies, margaritas, and other tasty foods, limes produce flavor-packed green fruits on a small, thorny, evergreen tree. The flowers are lightly fragrant compared to other citrus, but still add ambiance to the landscape in spring when the trees bloom. Limes grows best in a sunny spot with sandy or well-drained soil with a regular supply of moisture.Gardeners can grow dwarf varieties indoors in cold-weather climates. As houseplants, limes like a very bright spot protected from hot or cold drafts. Allow the soil to dry somewhat between watering. Genus Name Citrus aurantiifolia Common Name Lime Plant Type Fruit, Tree Light Sun Height 6 to 6 inches Width null to 15 feet Flower Color White Season Features Spring Bloom, Summer Bloom Special Features Attracts Birds, Fragrance, Good for Containers Zones 10, 11 Propagation Grafting, Seed, Stem Cuttings Problem Solvers Good For Privacy Harvest Tips Pick limes when they're still green. They'll mature to a yellowish color, but may be too bitter. It usually takes about three to four months to develop their best flavor. Limes do not continue ripening after harvest and need to be stored in cool, high humidity conditions. More varieties for lime Kaffir lime Citrus hystrix is a different species from most limes. It bears small, light green, very bumpy fruits with an intensely aromatic rind. While the fruits can be used for citrus zest or juice, the primary reason for growing Kaffir lime is its leaves, which are used in Asian cooking. Find perennials to pair with your fruit trees and plants More Videos » Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit