Unlikely — Zone Mismatch
key lime (zones 10-11) does not overlap with District of Columbia's zone range (7b-8a). Growing outdoors is unlikely without significant protection.
2 zones short — what would close it
Key Lime is hardy to zone 10, and the warmest ground in District Of Columbia is zone 8 — 2 zones short. Planted in open ground it will not survive a District Of Columbia winter. To grow it here, grow key lime under glass — a greenhouse is the only lift this wide the engine models.
A greenhouse is the lift this needs. How a greenhouse changes what you can grow →
Zone math from 10-11 (plant) against 7-8 (District of Columbia). Lift modeled by crop_engine Sprint 20B effective_zone_modifier (+2 zones) via api/fast_sections.py Unlock Engine v2.
Your yard isn't the whole zone.
District of Columbia spans zones 7b-8a, but your yard sits in exactly one — and slope, tree cover, and cold-air pockets nudge it further. Enter your address and we'll score key lime against your parcel's actual hardiness, soil, and sun.
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Zone Comparison
Key Lime Needs
- USDA Zones: 10-11
- Frost-Free Days: 140+
- Sun: Full Sun
- Mature size: 12 ft tall
- Picking window: ~28 days of harvest
- Drought tolerance: Low
District of Columbia Has
- USDA Zones: 7b-8a
- Last Hard Freeze (28°F): Mar 15
- First Hard Freeze (28°F): Nov 24
- Annual Rainfall: 39-43 inches
- Common Soils: Urban fill, Silt loam, Clay loam
Plant Zone Range (zones 10-11)
Preferred Soil pH
Plant data: USDA PLANTS Database / Growable Ground plant catalog. State data: USDA ARS PHZM 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NRCS SSURGO.
When to Plant Key Lime in District of Columbia
The frost window
Across District of Columbia, the last spring hard freeze (28°F) clears between Mar 15 and Mar 15, and the first fall hard freeze lands between Nov 24 and Nov 24 (NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020). Counting from the latest last freeze to the earliest first freeze, that's a 254-day window you can count on — up to 254 days on a mild site in a kind year. That marks the hard freeze, not the last light frost, so tender transplants usually wait another 2-3 weeks.
Winter standing
District of Columbia runs as cold as USDA zone 7, and no sourced winter-hardiness floor is on record for key lime, so this page does not state whether it overwinters here — and gives no fall establishment date on the strength of a guess. Whether key lime is a permanent planting or a replant-every-spring crop for you turns on your own zone within District of Columbia; check its hardiness range against that before treating it as long-lived ground.
Frost window: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020. Plant timing fields: USDA PLANTS Database. Your site's own frost dates can run earlier or later than the state range — a parcel report pins them down.
Growing Season Fit
The zone check says key lime does not survive a District of Columbia winter in the ground. The season figures below measure a different question — whether it could finish a season here at all — and they only bear on District of Columbia under protection.
Frost-free days
Key Lime wants 140+ frost-free days; a typical District of Columbia site sees ~254 (NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020). That leaves comfortable headroom for succession planting.
Growing degree days
Key Lime needs ~4000 GDD (base 50°F) to ripen. The state median runs ~4070 GDD (from PRISM 1991-2020 climate normals), so District of Columbia sits right at the threshold — pay attention to siting and microclimate.
Chill hours
Key Lime has no winter-chill requirement — its listed minimum is 0 hours (USDA PLANTS Database). District of Columbia typically banks ~2452 chill hours per winter (from PRISM 1991-2020 climate normals), so chill is not a constraint on this plant here — and not evidence in its favour either. Winter survival and season length are what decide it.
GDD and chill-hour figures are computed from PRISM 1991-2020 monthly climate normals; frost-free days from NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020. Each is the state median across its counties (P25/P75 span the within-state spread). Hardiness-zone range is USDA PHZM 2023.
Soil + Drainage Fit
Key Lime likes near-neutral soil (pH 5.5-8.3). That's the common-ground band across District of Columbia's urban fill and silt loam — a soil test confirms it for your site. It will grow across that whole span, but it does best between pH 6 and 7 — worth knowing before you decide whether a District of Columbia soil test result is a problem or just a number. Drainage matters: this plant wants well (dry spells). If your District of Columbia site is heavier clay or sits in a low spot, raised beds or amendment with compost solve it.
Your land, not the state average
District Of Columbia's soils run mostly silt loam, but SSURGO maps the series, texture, and drainage under your exact parcel. Key Lime needs about 59 inches of workable depth, so it is that horizon — not the surface — you are testing for. That map unit, not the state average, decides how key lime performs.
Check your parcel → Source: USDA NRCS SSURGO.
Plant pH and drainage requirements from USDA PLANTS Database. District of Columbia soil profile from USDA NRCS SSURGO. Site-specific verification: a 30-minute soil test from your local Extension lab.
Key Lime in District of Columbia — Quick Answer
- Verdict: Unlikely — Zone Mismatch
- Plant Zones: 10-11 (USDA PLANTS Database)
- State Zones: 7b-8a (USDA ARS PHZM 2023)
- Growing Season: 28°F hard freezes about Mar 15 to Nov 24 (NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020)
What Else to Consider for Key Lime in District of Columbia
Zone compatibility tells you about winter cold survival — but District of Columbia growers also need to think about:
Dense urban siting means small lots, compacted fill soils, and limited sun
Summer heat and humidity promote fungal diseases
The urban heat-island effect pushes summer temperatures above surrounding suburbs
Growing key lime here specifically
Key Lime needs pH 5.5–8.3; District Of Columbia's dominant silt loam soils may or may not deliver that, so your parcel's SSURGO map unit is the real test.
Start with a soil test on your own ground and adjust pH and texture to fit key lime's 5.5–8.3 range. How to handle it →
What to actually do about these — and the constraints that apply to every District of Columbia grower, not just key lime — is covered on the District of Columbia growing guide.
Pollinator + Wildlife Value
Key Lime draws honeybees (high value, Growable Ground Plant Database). Planting it near vegetable beds can lift fruit set on neighboring crops. Outdoors, key lime can only work that bloom inside District of Columbia's frost window — roughly 254 days, opening after the last 28°F freeze (Mar 15) and closing at the first (Nov 24), per NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020.
Good to Know Before You Plant Key Lime
Key Lime is listed as toxic to dogs, cats (leaves, stems, peel) at a mild level (ASPCA). Most listed plants only cause brief upset — a raised bed or a fenced corner usually keeps curious pets clear.
District of Columbia Cooperative Extension
For District of Columbia-specific cultivar recommendations, planting calendars, and pest pressure for key lime, the canonical source is UDC Center for Urban Agriculture. Their fact sheets carry the local trial data we can't generalize across 50 states.
Is Key Lime native to District of Columbia?
No — the USDA PLANTS Database lists Key Lime as introduced rather than native in the Lower 48, so it is not part of District of Columbia's native flora. It grows here as a garden plant; pairing it with a few District of Columbia natives keeps local pollinators fed too.
Looking for plants that belong here? The District of Columbia growing guide lists USDA-documented natives for the state.
Native-range data: USDA PLANTS Database state-distribution records, accessed 2026-07-01.
Common Questions About Growing Key Lime in District of Columbia
When can I plant Key Lime in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia's last spring hard freeze (28°F) clears between Mar 15 and Mar 15, and the first fall hard freeze lands between Nov 24 and Nov 24 (NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020). No sourced winter-hardiness floor is on record for Key Lime, so this page does not state whether it overwinters in District of Columbia and publishes no fall establishment date for it — check its hardiness range against your own zone before treating it as a permanent planting.
What hardiness zone is Key Lime grown in across District of Columbia?
District of Columbia spans USDA hardiness zones 7b-8a (USDA ARS PHZM 2023). Key Lime carries a range of zones 10-11, so the overlap zones are where outdoor growing is most reliable.
How many frost-free days does a typical District of Columbia site have?
A typical District of Columbia site sees ~254 frost-free days per year (derived from NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020). Key Lime needs 140+ frost-free days, so check whether your local microclimate runs above or below the state average before settling on a planting date.
Is Key Lime native to District of Columbia?
No — the USDA PLANTS Database lists Key Lime as introduced rather than native in the Lower 48, so it is not part of District of Columbia's native flora. It grows here as a garden plant; pairing it with a few District of Columbia natives keeps local pollinators fed too.
How should I amend the soil for Key Lime in District of Columbia?
Key Lime prefers pH 5.5-8.3 and well (dry spells) drainage (FAO ECOCROP). That sits in the common-ground band across District of Columbia soils — a 30-minute soil test from a local Extension lab confirms it for your specific site.
Will Key Lime actually grow on my specific land in District of Columbia?
State-level zone + climate data is a sketch. A Growable Ground parcel report scores key lime against your address's exact soil pH, drainage, sun, and frost-date data drawn from USDA SSURGO, NOAA, and PRISM — not state averages.
Check your specific parcel in District of Columbia
State-level data is a sketch. Your Growable Ground report scores key lime against your parcel's exact soil, sun, drainage, and frost data — not zone averages.
Three things about your lot that District of Columbia key lime averages can't show:
We read public map data around District of Columbia — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
25+ data sources read at your address, not the District of Columbia key lime average
Explore More
Growing guides for key lime
Analysis by the Growable Ground research team, grounded in USDA PLANTS, USDA NRCS SSURGO, NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020), and named Cooperative Extension sources. How we know →
Cite this dataset
Kirchick, M. (2026). Growable Ground Plant Database [Data set]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21435643
Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. DOI 10.5281/zenodo.21435643
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