Kaffir Lime Plant

Kaffir lime (makrut lime) is a must-have for people who love cooking Southeast Asian food. Pick the fragrant leaves fresh for curries and other dishes, and use the distinctive fruit in cooking. Grow it in a sunny garden spot or in a pot on the balcony, then prune it to keep the canopy at a manageable height.

Give it plenty of sun, shelter from strong cold winds, and free-draining soil. It is frost-sensitive, especially while young: protect it from frost, and grow it in a movable pot if your garden gets cold snaps.

In the ground, a kaffir lime can become a small tree of roughly 2–4 m, depending on conditions and pruning. In a pot, regular pruning helps keep it more compact.