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Citrus limetta (F)

sweet lime

An evergreen tree to 8m tall but generally lower in cultivation with glossy mid- to dark green leaves. Fragrant, white flowers may be produced year-round in favourable conditions but are mainly borne in spring and followed by oval, green fruits resembling limes but that ripen to yellow; the low acidity of the flesh gives the fruits a sweeter, milder flavour than limes and gives rise to one of the common names- the sweet lime

Other common names

Mediterranean sweet lime
Mediterranean sweet limetta
see moresweet lemon
sweetie
Tunisian sweet limetta
sweet lime

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Plant nurseries
3 suppliers

Ultimate height

4–8 metres

Time to ultimate height

10–20 years

Ultimate spread

1.5–2.5 metres

Loam

Sand

Clay

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Rutaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: Fruit harmful to skin with sunlight/skin allergen. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Genus: Citrus are typically evergreen shrubs or trees, frequently spiny, with simple, leathery, aromatic leaves, usually with winged stalks, and often fragrant white or pink-tinged flowers, followed by large, juicy fruits
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow as a conservatory or greenhouse plant, in a container of peat-free, loam-based potting compost with added grit, in full light, with shade from hot sun. In growth during spring and summer, water freely, and mist daily. Apply fertilisers formulated for citrus, throughout the year, following the manufacturer’s instructions; water sparingly in winter. See citrus cultivation for further information

Propagation

Propagate by seed or semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Patio and container plants
Sub-tropical
Mediterranean climate plants
Conservatory and greenhouse
Edible fruit

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

May be susceptible to citrus red spider mite and glasshouse red spider mite, soft scale and fluted scale, aphids, caterpillars and mealybugs under glass

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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