Key Lime is a tree, a long-term addition to the landscape. It's hardy across USDA zones 10 through 11 and stands up to deer. Its spring flowers are a real draw for honeybees, even though the fruit is the prize. It roots deep, which helps it reach moisture in a dry spell and open up tight soil as it establishes.
Zones
10-11
pH Range
5.5-8.3
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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What Key Lime is
Key Lime grows as a perennial and reaches around twelve feet at maturity. It blooms white in spring. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Key Lime
Key Lime grows in USDA zones 10 through 11. Key Lime does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.5 to 8.3, on well-drained ground. It needs around 4,000 growing degree days to mature, a growing season of at least 140 frost-free days, and about 0 hours of winter chill to set fruit, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
10-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.5 - 8.3
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
53.6°F
plant_species_v5.csv
GDD Required
4000+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
12 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Chill Hours
0+
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
140+
plant_species_v5.csv
Plant it right
Set key lime in full sun with well-drained soil. Many fruit trees need a second variety nearby to pollinate — check before you plant just one.
Match the soil
Key Lime prefers pH 5.5 to 8.3 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Be patient, then harvest
Prune annually while the tree establishes; fruit trees reward patience with years of harvest. Local Extension guides publish per-cultivar bearing-age tables.
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — key lime is toxic to dogs and cats (mild severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)
Key Lime is a standout pollinator plant — high value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Key Lime thrives
Key Lime is hardy across USDA zones 10 through 11. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 10–11·Where Key Lime growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Key Lime can grow in these states:
See if Key Lime will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether key lime actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Key Lime in my zone?
Key Lime grows in USDA hardiness zones 10 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Key Lime?
Set key lime out in early spring or fall while it's dormant, so the roots establish before the heat of summer. Your local last-frost date — which a Growable Ground report pulls for your exact address — sets the precise window.
How much sun does Key Lime need?
Key Lime needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Key Lime need?
Key Lime prefers soil pH 5.5 to 8.3, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Key Lime attract pollinators?
Yes — key lime's flowers are a strong nectar and pollen source for honeybees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Key Lime safe for pets?
Key Lime is toxic to pets (dogs,cats) with mild severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency.