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Fruit tree

Tahitian lime

Citrus × latifolia · also Persian lime, Bearss lime

The easiest lime for home gardens: large, seedless fruit on an almost thornless tree, cropping mainly from autumn into winter. In Adelaide plant it in a warm, sunny, sheltered spot such as against a north-facing wall. It is less cold hardy than lemons, so protect young trees from frost in the Hills.

When to plant where you live

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Planting times for other areas

Varieties (3)

  • BearssA Tahitian-type selection with thin-skinned, nearly seedless fruit
  • Dwarf Tahitian (on Flying Dragon rootstock)Same fruit on a tree of 1.5 to 2 m; best for pots
  • Tahitian (standard)Seedless, few thorns; grows to about 4 m

Neighbours

Grows well with

From seed to plate

  1. Plant

    400 cm apart. Full sun.

  2. Water

    Deep watering weekly in summer.

  3. Feed

    Citrus food in late winter and late summer.

  4. Pick

    Pick when full size and glossy.

Good to know

  • Plant in spring once frosts have passed so the tree settles in before winter
  • Keep the graft union above the soil and mulch clear of the trunk
  • Limes turn yellow when fully ripe and are juiciest then, but most people pick them green
  • Choose a dwarf tree on Flying Dragon rootstock for a large pot

Common problems

  • Citrus gall wasp (swellings on twigs)cut off and destroy galls before late spring when wasps emerge
  • Yellow, mottled leavesoften hunger or trace element shortage; feed with citrus fertiliser and check drainage
  • Scale and sooty mouldcontrol the ants that farm them; use horticultural oil following label directions
  • Citrus leaf miner (silvery trails on new leaves)tolerate on mature trees; use horticultural oil on new growth following label directions
  • Frost damage on young treescover on frosty nights or grow in a pot you can move

If you use a garden chemical, follow the label exactly. Try organic options first, and ask the community or Plant Doctor if you're unsure.

Ask the garden helper about tahitian limeAny question, answered from the plant libraryHow others are growing tahitian limeQuestions, tips and harvests from the community

Wildlife

Good for: bees.

Safety: ASPCA lists lime as toxic to dogs, cats and horses (essential oils and psoralens): vomiting, diarrhoea and skin irritation. The fruit flesh is a common food.

Where this information comes from

Reviewed by AI cross-check (Claude), not a horticulturist on 29 Oct 2026. Version 1.