VARIETY | SEASON OF MATURITY |
SEEDS/ FRUIT |
FRUIT SIZE |
COMMENTS |
INDIAN SWEET (Palestine) Citrus limettoides Lemon X orange X Mexican lime |
FEW | MEDIUM 1¾” – 2½” |
Not acidic, referred to as sweet. Medium-sized tree with irregular, thick and thorny branches , while the leaves are cupped or rolled. Round fruit with a small nipple, very juicy, mild flavored white juice with hint of orange flavor. Rind smooth or faintly ribbed, light yellow changing to orange-yellow when fully mature. Tree similiar to Persian in appearance. In India/Egypt believed to have special medicinal properties. Used for root stock in Middle East & India. | |
KAFFIR Citrus hystrix |
JAN – APR | VERY SEEDY | Tree is small. Fruit has real rough, bumpy & thick peel; dark green fruit with strong lime aroma. Used for the rind oil & leaves to enhance flavor of Asian cooking (curries, soups & salads).Leaves & rind can be kept in freezer up to 1 year. | |
KEY (Mexican,’true lime”) Citrus aurantifolia |
EVERBEARING | FEW 3-10 (very small) |
SMALL 1¼” – 1¾” |
Very acidic & juicy. Flesh is greenish-yellow to yellow in color. Peel turns greenish-yellow when ripe. Excellent for cooking & pies. Fairly vigorous , medium size, bushy growth w/ slender branches. Cold sensitive. THORNY more fruit production than thornless. Thorny leaf elongated whereas thornless more rounded. |
LIMEQUAT Citrofortunella floridana Marumi kumquat X West Indian Lime |
EVERBEARING | FEW 0-7 (very small) |
SMALL 1¼” – 1¾” oblong |
Cross round kumquat & key lime. Small tree size. Very heavy producer. Acidic, very juicy. Yellow fruited, white flesh color. Key Lime flavor. More cold tolerant than other limes. |
PERSIAN (Tahiti~Bearss~ Sicilian) Citrus latifolia |
EVERBEARING | NONE 0 – 1 |
MEDIUM 1¾” – 2½” |
Harvested while still green; mature fruit greenish-yellow. Flesh is pale yellow. Very juicy & acidic. Most commonly grown for commercial use. Similar to lime found in grocery. Vigorous growth & thornless, large, dark green leaves. Spot picked while green. Cold sensitive. |