Citrus Species, Kaffir Lime, Porcupine Orange, Thai Bai Makrut
Citrus hystrix
Family: | Rutaceae (roo-TAY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Citrus (SIT-rus) (Info) |
Species: | hystrix (HIS-triks) (Info) |
Synonym: | Citrus auraria |
Synonym: | Citrus balincolong |
Synonym: | Citrus boholensis |
Synonym: | Citrus celebica |
Synonym: | Citrus combara |
Category:
Herbs
Perennials
Trees
Tropicals and Tender Perennials
Water Requirements:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Foliage:
Grown for foliage
Evergreen
Textured
Foliage Color:
Height:
8-10 ft. (2.4-3 m)
Spacing:
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Where to Grow:
Danger:
Plant has spines or sharp edges; use extreme caution when handling
Bloom Color:
White/Near White
Bloom Characteristics:
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Blooms all year
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
From semi-hardwood cuttings
Seed Collecting:
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Petersburg, Alaska
Castro Valley, California
Chualar, California
El Cajon, California
Fremont, California
Lakewood, California
San Diego, California
San Francisco, California
San Leandro, California
Upland, California
Brandon, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Saint Petersburg, Florida
Suwanee, Georgia
Hawi, Hawaii
Pukalani, Hawaii
Chicago, Illinois
Boston, Massachusetts
New York City, New York
Nashville, Tennessee
Dallas, Texas
Galveston, Texas
San Marcos, Texas
Spicewood, Texas
Jonesville, Virginia
Walla Walla, Washington
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
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Positive | On Jan 31, 2016, janelp_lee from Toronto, ON (Zone 6a) wrote: Often are sold in bundle of twigs with leaves in Asian supermarket. Fruit is acidic and bitter not usually used for eating. But could use the peel after remove the white part. Medicinal. |
Positive | On May 19, 2011, BlakeYamsley from Chalmette, LA wrote: I have had my Kaffir Lime for almost 3 months; it was planted on Arbor Day. I put compost and worm castings underneath the potted tree after i removed some of the heavy clay, then I used a cultivator to mix the mediums together. Then, I weeded the area added sand, and tilled again. I cut off the pot, bottom first, and put the 10-gallon tree about 1/3 of the depth of the root mass into the hole. Covering the remainder with the remnants of the surrounding soil and pinebark mulch. |
Positive | On Dec 21, 2010, jbwaters from Dallas, TX wrote: I love this plant. I have had one in a pot for about 12 years now and it is still thriving. Mine fruits and I have been extremely successful with starting new ones from seeds -- i plant them directly from the fruit into moist soil -- about 95% sprouted and are either in the ground or given as gifts. In the summer, I have mine in dappled to direct sun until late afternoon and have positioned it so that I can see the Giant Swallowtails laying their eggs on it from my kitchen window-- their ceterpillars look like bird droppings. My tree is easily big enough to share with them. It doesn't seems to like our Texas sun as much as my Satsuma Orange does. |
Positive | On Oct 14, 2009, plantoid from Castro Valley, CA (Zone 9b) wrote: I have a dwarf plant in a 31" diameter x 28" high container. It gets some scales and aphids on the undersides of the newer leaves, not on the tender tips or the older leaves, but on the "teenage" leaves. These bugs don't seem to really hurt the plant yet, but if I really need to I can wipe them out with an oil spray in winter. The plant experienced some leaf drop, probably because of under-watering, but the overall health of the tree did not seem to be affected. |
Positive | On Jan 22, 2008, isvasu from Woodbridge, VA wrote: This plant can grow as high as 20' . It is a must in "Tom Yum" Thai cooking. USDA does not like this plant especially in Florida where orange are grown. |
Positive | On Jul 9, 2007, rplingaltx from Galveston, TX wrote: I have had my kaffir lime since last year. I planted it in the ground where it basically gets full sun all day. It was about 2 feet tall when I planted it and it sent up a crazy shoot shortly thereafter that is about 8 feet tall. We had bad leaf miners last year on all of our citrus here in Galveston, but this year so far none to speak of. I love the way the leaves on this tree are so pungent and that it has such vicious thorns. We did have some light freezing weather this past winter, but the lime was unfazed and never lost any leaves. It has not yet bloomed for me, but I am far more interested in the leaves than the fruit. A very good tree! |
Neutral | On Jul 3, 2007, fortunatefool from New York, NY wrote: My experience with this plant has been mixed. It thrives with full sunlight and high humidity (approximating its tropical origins). It WILL grow as a container plant at northerly latitudes. However, in the winter time, if placed in a warm (and consequently dry) spot, it becomes extremely susceptible to pests, especially scale and spider mite. Once infested, the plant has to be destroyed to prevent spread. I have found it impossible to eradicate scale and spider mite infestation whose nymphs are microscopic. Once weakened by pests, the plant will experience massive leaf drop and wither away. Consequently quarantine all new plants from prized specimens. |
Positive | On Oct 20, 2006, go2glenn from Suwanee, GA (Zone 7a) wrote: I have grown a Kaffir Line in a pot on my deck in Georgia (USA) for four years. It is now about 6 feet tall. It comes inside and placed by a sunny window in the winter. Beware of spider mites if you do this! I use the leaves for cooking or give them to my friend's wife who is from Thailand. She also growns a Kaffir Lime. Her tree is also about as tall as mine but a lot more bushy. She fertilizes it with spoiled milk and says it is an old Thai secret. It seems to work nicely!!?? I have observed no blossoms or fruit on either plant as of yet. A source for Kaffir Lime leaves is a must if you are experimenting with Thai recipies. G |
Positive | On Apr 12, 2006, Silphion from Portland, OR (Zone 8b) wrote: I think the real attraction of the Kaffir Lime, for me at least, is the ease with which a small investment (~1.00$) can provide all the Kaffir's anyone could possibly want. Go to a grocery store witha generous produce section (I went to New Seasons) and buy 1 Kaffir lime. Now you have about 20 seeds. Clean them up and dry them off (I gave a tap water wash and left them on a paper towel over night) now you have the potoential to have about 8-10 Kaffir tree's. Try the same trick with a Lemon, Lime or Grapefruit...uh, no I guess not, none of those grow true from seed. Unless you just have to have a full sized tree *Right Now* then dont waste your money. I started my seeds last spring and my largest Kaffir is now around 3-4 feet tall. Decient resistance to pests (and I had nearly every ... read more |
Neutral | On Oct 26, 2004, tcfromky from Mercer, PA (Zone 5a) wrote: Very popular in Thai and Cambodian cooking as the fruit can be candied or it can be dried and used in curry pastes. The fruits can also be eaten with fish or made into drinks. The dried leaves are used in soups and curries. Only hardy in zones 9 - 10. |
Positive | On Sep 24, 2004, jnn from Pittsboro, NC (Zone 7b) wrote: We have been fortunate enough to have a Kaffir Lime tree for four years now. It is in a pot as we live in Zone 7 and have to bring it inside during the cold weather. We love to make Thai dishes using the Kaffir leaves. Incredible flavor. Don't let the thorns intimidate you! |
Positive | On Aug 1, 2004, martina from El Cajon, CA (Zone 10a) wrote: Handsome tree, can be made even nicer with a bit of pruning, so far has not failed us in giving at least some harvest every year (we are not at all lucky with other types of limes), yields very aromatic fruit, and on top of that, its leaves have a fine citronella scent when crushed - they can be used in exotic dishes or just to smell and enjoy. Lovely tree, we like it. |