🌿 Kaffir Lime / Makrut Lime
Citrus hystrix
herbs evergreen shrub/small tree
🗺️ Zones
4-9
🧪 Soil pH
5.5-6.5
📏 Spacing
6-10 ft apart (shrub/small tree)
📅 Days to Maturity
2-3 years (from planting grafted tree); regular leaf harvest after establishment
🍴 Edible Parts
🍽️ ["Tom yum🍽️ Thai curries (leaves)🍽️ Cambodian and Indonesian cuisine🍽️ aromatic baths"]
🤝 Companions (7)
Lemongrass planted around kaffir lime trees repels pests with its citronella content while both are essential ingredients that thrive together in Southeast Asian herb gardens.
Galangal grows well in kaffir lime's partial understory shade; both prefer well-drained soil and create the foundation of a tom yum/tom kha culinary guild.
Ginger thrives in the dappled shade beneath kaffir lime; the tree's canopy helps retain the soil moisture ginger rhizomes need.
Turmeric benefits from kaffir lime's light shade and leaf litter mulch; both share similar tropical growing requirements and are culinary companions.
Basil repels pests from kaffir lime while benefiting from the tree's partial afternoon shade in hot climates — a productive herb-tree pairing.
🤝 chili peppers
Chili peppers grow well near kaffir lime trees, benefiting from wind protection and light shade while both share similar well-drained soil preferences.
🤝 coriander
Coriander grows as a seasonal understory beneath kaffir lime, benefiting from partial shade that delays bolting — both are essential in Thai cooking.
⚠️ Keep Apart (1)
⚠️ plants needing full sun beneath canopy
Growth inhibition or competition
💊 Medicinal Uses
Contains citronellal, limonene, and beta-pinene (essential oils) with antimicrobial and insect-repellent properties. Rich in antioxidants and vitamin C. Traditional Southeast Asian remedy for colds, congestion, and digestive issues. Leaf infusion used for oral health and as a blood purifier. Fruit rind used topically for skin conditions.