What hardiness zones is Citrus × floridana suitable for?

Citrus × floridana is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 8, 9, 10, 11.

What are the sun requirements for Citrus × floridana?

Citrus × floridana requires Full Sun.

How much water does Citrus × floridana need?

Citrus × floridana has Medium water needs.

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Fruit Trees

Citrus floridana

Limequat

Rutaceae

Horticultural hybrid (USDA, Florida 1909)

At a Glance

TypeTree

HabitMounding

FoliageEvergreen

Height8-15 ft (2.4-4.5 m)

Width6-10 ft (1.8-3 m)

Maturity7 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

8 - 11

Zone 8 Zone 9 Zone 10 Zone 11

These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.

What's my zone? →

Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts Pollinators Fragrant (moderate)Container Friendly

Maintenancemoderate

Overview

Citrus x floridana is a hybrid evergreen citrus tree reaching 8-15 ft (2.4-4.5 m) tall and 6-10 ft (1.8-3 m) wide with a dense rounded canopy and short thorns on young growth. Glossy dark green oval-elliptic leaves 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) long with a citrus aroma when crushed; foliage is intermediate between C. japonica and C. aurantiifolia parents. White fragrant flowers 0.5-0.75 inch (12-19 mm) across with five petals open in spring through summer in flushes following rainfall or irrigation. Fruit is an oblong yellow-green berry 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) long with a sweet-tart edible rind and acidic juicy flesh containing 5-10 seeds — used as a lime substitute in cooking and beverages. A USDA hybrid created in 1909 in Eustis, Florida, from a cross of C. japonica (kumquat) × C. aurantiifolia (Mexican lime); three named cultivars exist ('Eustis', 'Lakeland', and 'Tavares'). More cold-hardy than true lime — tolerates brief temperatures to 20°F (−7°C); defoliation occurs at 15°F (−9°C) versus death of C. aurantiifolia below 28°F (−2°C). Self-fertile; bears 2-3 crops per year in subtropical climates. Begins bearing 2-3 years from grafted planting; productive lifespan 30-50 years. Suited to container culture in 10-15 gallon (38-57 liter) pots.

Native Range

C. x floridana is a horticultural hybrid created in 1909 by Walter T. Swingle at the USDA Subtropical Garden in Eustis, Florida. The parent species C. japonica is native to southern China and C. aurantiifolia to Southeast Asia. The hybrid does not occur in the wild.

Suggested Uses

Grown as a single dooryard fruit tree in zones 8b-11, spaced 8-12 ft (2.4-3.6 m) from buildings and walks because thorns occur on young growth. Suited to container culture in 10-15 gallon (38-57 liter) pots with indoor winter protection in zones 4-8a; sunny window or supplemental grow-light placement is required indoors. Used as a substitute for true lime in colder climates where C. aurantiifolia cannot survive winter outdoors.

How to Identify

Identified by oblong yellow-green fruit 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) long with sweet-tart rind on a small evergreen citrus tree with short thorns. Glossy dark green oval-elliptic leaves 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) long with a citrus aroma when crushed. Distinguishes from kumquat (C. japonica) by larger more lime-shaped fruit and from Mexican lime (C. aurantiifolia) by the smaller oblong shape, the more cold-hardy habit, and the sweet-edible rind.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height8' - 15'

Width/Spread6' - 10'

Reaches mature size in approximately 7 years

Colors

Flower Colors

white

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~10 weeks

Spring Summer

White fragrant flowers in 1-3 sequential flushes from April through July in zones 9-10, often coinciding with irrigation or rainfall pulses. Each flush lasts 7-14 days; total bloom across all flushes extends 8-12 weeks. Fruit develops 7-10 months after flowering, with the main crop ripening November through February. Self-fertile — bee visitation raises set.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

White, fragrant

Foliage Description

Glossy dark green, oval-elliptic, citrus-aromatic

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun Partial Shade

Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 6.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years to first fruit; 5-7 years to full production

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Full sun (6+ hours) for full crop production; tolerates light afternoon shade with reduced yield. Soil pH 5.5-6.5 in well-drained loam, sandy loam, or amended container mix. Citrus require consistent moisture during fruit development; established trees withstand short dry periods of 2-3 weeks. Citrus leafminer (Phyllocnistis citrella), citrus whitefly, and Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri — vector of huanglongbing) are regional pest pressures; HLB is regulated in citrus-growing US states. More cold-hardy than true lime: tolerates brief 20°F (−7°C); defoliation at 15°F (−9°C). Hardiness zones 8b-11 in ground; container culture with indoor winter protection extends usable range to zone 6.

Pruning

Light pruning in spring after main harvest removes dead, crossing, or damaged wood. The natural rounded canopy requires no shaping. Tip-pinching after each fruiting flush encourages branching and a compact form for container specimens. Citrus tolerate hard renewal pruning of overgrown plants but lose 1-2 years of fruit production after severe cutbacks.

Pruning Schedule

early spring

Maintenance Level

moderate

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 10 gallons

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic