Kaffir Lime Tree

Kaffir Lime Tree (Citrus hystrix), also sold as makrut lime, is the citrus you grow for the leaves as much as the fruit. The glossy double lobed leaves are the backbone of Thai and Southeast Asian cooking, and one tree keeps a kitchen supplied all year, fresher than anything sold in a packet. It grows to about 3m tall and 2m wide in the ground and stays comfortably smaller in a pot.

Why you'll love it

• Leaves on demand. Fresh kaffir lime leaves lift curries, soups and marinades in a way dried leaves never do, and picking straight from the tree costs nothing.
• Fruit with a purpose. The knobbly, deeply textured limes carry intense zest that defines authentic curry pastes.
• Fragrance from every part. Crushed leaves, white spring flowers and cut fruit all release that unmistakable citrus perfume.
• Compact enough for anywhere warm. At about 3m by 2m, and smaller in a container, it fits courtyards and small gardens easily.
• Good for the garden's pollinators. The scented flowers feed bees and butterflies through the flowering season.

Where it works best

Pots on balconies and courtyards. This is one of the best citrus for container life. A large pot by a sunny door puts the leaves within arm's reach of the kitchen.

Small gardens. Its modest frame makes it an easy fit for a productive corner, and it earns its space better than a second lemon.

Feature planting in warm gardens. Glossy foliage and sculptural fruit make it handsome enough to plant where it is seen, not hidden down the back.

Growing Kaffir Lime Tree in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, at least six hours a day. It thrives in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. It is frost tender, so in cooler climates grow it in a pot against a warm north facing wall and move it under cover when frosts threaten.

Soil. Rich, free draining soil improved with compost. In pots, use a premium citrus or general potting mix, never garden soil.

Water and feed. Keep the water steady, especially while flowering and fruiting, and mulch to hold moisture, keeping mulch off the trunk. Feed little and often through the warm months with a citrus fertiliser.

Pruning. Harvesting leaves is most of the pruning it needs. Beyond that, shape lightly in late winter and remove any shoots from below the graft.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Kaffir Lime in 250mm pots as a pack of 3, and as single 300mm, 400mm and 500mm trees. The 300mm size is an established young tree ready to pick from lightly; the 400mm and 500mm trees carry real structure and reach harvest scale sooner. All are hardened, garden ready stock.

Expect a brief sulk after transport, which is normal for citrus, then steady new growth in warm weather. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every tree is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Growing citrus trees in your Australian backyard
• Browse our full citrus range
• Explore all fruit trees
• Tahitian Lime, the juicing companion to plant beside it

Common questions

Do I need two trees to get fruit?

No. Like other citrus it is self fertile, so a single tree flowers and fruits on its own. More sun and steady water do far more for your harvest than a second tree.

Can I pick leaves all year?

Yes, it is evergreen, so leaves are available whenever you cook. Pick individual mature leaves rather than stripping whole stems and the tree will not miss them.

Will it grow in Melbourne or cooler areas?

In cool temperate climates grow it in a container in the warmest, sunniest spot you have, and shelter it from frost in winter. In the ground it is reliable from warm temperate zones north.

What size pot does it need?

Start at 400mm wide and move up to around 500mm as the tree matures. Good drainage holes, premium potting mix and regular feeding matter more than the exact pot.