Rutaceae
How to identify a kaffir lime tree
Citrus hystrix · also called makrut lime, limau purut (Malay)
Grown mainly for its intensely aromatic, double-lobed leaves — a signature ingredient in Thai, Lao, and Khmer cooking — rather than for the bumpy, rarely-eaten-fresh fruit itself.
Field marks
These features are typical of the genus Citrus, so they help confirm you are looking at the right group; the fruit and the details below separate the species.
- Crushed leaves are aromatic, and tiny translucent oil glands show when a leaf is held up to the light.
- Leaf edges range from smooth to finely toothed (lemon is often toothed).
- Many have thorns where the leaves join the stem.
- The leaf stalk is often winged. In kaffir lime the wing is almost as large as the blade, giving a distinctive 'double leaf'; pomelo has very large leaves and broadly winged stalks.
Check a photo
Photograph one whole, mature leaf from above, or a flower or fruit, and the identifier will return ranked matches. If kaffir lime is the top result, the field marks above are your second opinion.
Leaves, flowers, fruit, or bark — closer and sharper identifies better. Your photo is identified and discarded, never stored.
Where and when you will find it
- Origin / cultivation history
- Southeast Asia
- USDA zones
- 9-11
- Climate
- Tropical to subtropical.
- Fruiting season
- Season not documented; check local sources
- How often grown
- Widely grown
A tree growing well outside the climate above is more likely to be a look-alike.
Growing it: seedling or grafted?
A young tree with no fruit is harder to identify and easy to mislabel, so it helps to know how long it takes to reach fruiting age and how it is usually propagated.
- Years to first fruit
- Grafted 2-3 yrs
- Propagation
- Grafting, cuttings.
Relatives in the Rutaceae family
Close relatives share many features, so these are the most likely mix-ups.
Map your kaffir lime trees
CanopyTwin keeps every tree on a map with its species, cultivar, photos and history, and counts flowers and fruit from survey photos. It is built for orchards, nurseries and collectors of tropical and rare fruit.
More identification guides: free plant identifier · tropical fruit tree identifier · fruit tree identifier · all species guides