About
Citrus x floridana is an evergreen shrub or small tree, resulting from the cross between key lime and kumquat. It bears small, thin-skinned fruits that turn yellow when ripe and are edible in their entirety. Typically, this plant grows to a height of 1.2 to 2.5 meters and features glossy, dark green foliage. Under optimal conditions, it can produce fragrant white blooms throughout the year, though it most commonly flowers from late spring to autumn.
About the genus
Citrus consists mainly of evergreen shrubs and trees, which are often armed with spines. They feature simple, leathery leaves that release a pleasing fragrance, typically borne on winged petioles. The plants produce aromatic flowers that are usually white or have a hint of pink, which are succeeded by sizable, juicy fruits.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Loam, Sand, Clay
- Soil pH
- Acid, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H2
Plant details
- Plant type
- Fruit Edible, Shrubs, Trees, Conservatory Greenhouse
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.5-1 metres
- Time to full height
- 10-20 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Patio and container plants
- Fragrance
- Flower
- Toxicity
- Fruit harmful to skin with sunlight/skin allergen (lemon and lime-bearing Citrus only). Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow as a conservatory or greenhouse plant, in a container of peat-free, loam-based potting compost with added grit, in full light, with shade from hot sun. In growth during spring and summer, water freely, and mist daily. Apply fertilisers formulated for citrus, throughout the year, following the manufacturer’s instructions; water sparingly in winter. See citrus cultivation for further information
- Pruning
- Pruning group 1
- Propagation
- Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings and grafting
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to scale insects, mealybugs and glasshouse red spider mite
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free