Key Lime

Citrus aurantiifolia

fruit

Key lime (also called Mexican lime or West Indian lime) is the small, intensely aromatic citrus that gives Key lime pie its name. The fruit is round to oval, 1 to 2 inches across, with thin yellow-green skin when ripe and seedy juicy flesh that is sharper and more floral than the larger Persian lime. The flavor is hard to mimic.

✅ Plant alongside

Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests

• Lavender — Mediterranean partner that attracts pollinators and repels soft-bodied citrus pests
• Marigolds — Suppress soil nematodes that damage feeder roots
• Basil — Aromatic foliage may help discourage citrus leafminer
• Yarrow — Hosts hoverflies and parasitic wasps that prey on aphids and scale

🛡️ Pest & disease prevention

Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide

• Citrus leafminer →

  Limit pruning to time flushes, and apply horticultural oil to soft new leaves

• Aphids →

  Encourage natural predators, blast with water, and avoid excessive nitrogen

• Scale →

  Apply dormant oil in late winter and release Aphytis melinus where available

• Spider mites →

  Mist foliage to raise humidity, hose dusty leaves, and avoid water stress

🌾 Harvest & storage

Key limes bear fruit nearly year-round in zone 10 to 11, with the heaviest flush from May through September. Pick when the fruit is still green for the brightest flavor, or wait until it turns yellow-green for a more mellow juice. Gently twist or clip with pruners. Use within a week of harvest or freeze the juice in ice cube trays for later baking.

🥗 Nutrition & benefits

About 30 calories per 100 g with 2.8 g fiber and 29 mg vitamin C. Key limes also supply limonene and other essential oils prized in baking and cocktails for their distinctive aroma.