Citrus aurantifolia, commonly known as Key Lime or Mexican Lime, is a small tropical citrus tree native to Southeast Asia and grown worldwide for its aromatic, tart fruit. Seeds are highly recalcitrant and must be kept moist; they propagate reliably from fresh seeds without requiring dormancy breaking, making germination relatively straightforward with proper moisture and temperature control.
Before sowing
Soak fresh seeds in warm water to soften seed coat; seeds must remain moist as they will not germinate if allowed to dry out
Sowing
What to expect
Tips
Use fresh seeds whenever possible. Keep substrate barely moist but not waterlogged to prevent rot; water with spray bottle to maintain light moisture. Maintain constant warmth with germination mat set to 75-80°F (24-27°C) for fastest germination. Use shallow sowing depth of 1/4 to 1/2 inch. Expect germination within 2-3 weeks under optimal conditions. Remove propagation dome once first true leaves unfurl. Provide bright, indirect light and gradually acclimate seedlings to direct sun over 2 weeks before transplanting. Transplant at 2 inches tall into citrus-formula potting soil. Seeds exhibit polyembryony (multiple embryos per seed). Trees from seed typically produce fruit in 3-6 years but may take up to 8 years.
Sources: VIRIAR, Purdue University, NC State Extension, ScienceDirect, Wikipedia
