Kaffir Lime – Tropical Fruit
by Kasma Loha-unchit
3. Kaffir Lime is a Tropical Fruit
One of the most important things to know when growing a plant is to find out what its natural native habitat is, because by doing so, you are more likely able to keep it happy. Kaffir lime trees grow in very hot, humid countries where monsoonal rains drench the soil daily for nearly half the year. So growing a kaffir lime plant is going to be different than growing a Meyer lemon, a mandarin, a navel orange, or other temperate climate citrus.
Of course, you won't be able to duplicate such conditions exactly, but the closer you can provide such conditions, the more likely your kaffir lime tree will thrive. California, though, does have pretty nice weather most of the year, so you might just be able to easily coax your kaffir lime plant to adjust and stay around a while, like many Thais have. Fortunately, the kaffir lime tree you purchased from a local nursery is not seed grown and, therefore, not fully tropical. It has been grafted onto dwarf rootstock of a temperate climate citrus that will help it survive better in your cooler, dryer California garden. But unfortunately for some, this very same rootstock can turn out to be a killer if you don't watch out.
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