Height: 20 feet
Spread: 20 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: (annual)
Other Names: Tahitian Lime, Bearss Lime
Description:
A heavy producer of juicy, seedles fruit in winter to early spring; a densely branched habit with a full rounded crown at maturity; a great container plant for the patio or indoors in colder climates
Edible Qualities
Persian Lime is a small tree that is typically grown for its edible qualities. It produces green fruit which are usually ready for picking from mid summer to mid fall. The seedlessfruits have a tart taste.
The fruit are most often used in the following ways:
- Fresh Eating
- Cooking
- Juice-Making
- Sauces
Planting & Growing
Persian Lime will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 2 feet from the ground. Although it's not a true annual, this plant can be expected to behave as an annual in our climate if left outdoors over the winter, usually needing replacement the following year. As such, gardeners should take into consideration that it will perform differently than it would in its native habitat.
This plant is typically grown in a designated edibles garden. It does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.
Persian Lime is a good choice for the edible garden, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Its large size and upright habit of growth lend it for use as a solitary accent, or in a composition surrounded by smaller plants around the base and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.
