Limes are varieties of Citrus, closely related to oranges and lemons. They grow on attractive, ornamental evergreen trees, usually reaching a height of up to 1.5-1.8m (5-6ft). These are often sold trained as standard trees.They are not reliably cold hardy in Britain, so are best grown outside in containers from late spring/early summer to the beginning of autumn, and then brought inside for the winter – preferably a heated greenhouse or conservatory. Most lime varieties are less cold tolerant than lemons and oranges and need more warmth in winter than both of these.Lime trees produce lovely, white, fragrant flowers that appear in spring and summer, as well as citrus-fragrant foliage. They are self-fertile, so you will only need to grow one tree to get fruit.They don’t make great houseplants, as they need plenty of light and most rooms – apart from a conservatory – aren’t really light enough or suitable. They dislike central heating, as this makes rooms too hot and stuffy with a lack of essential humidity.
