Citrus fruits: Special types of oranges, limes & lemons

You can find exciting types of citrus fruits in our citrus fruit overview. We also introduce you to a few special citrus hybrids. For example, have you ever heard of a lemon with tentacles or caviar made from lime?

Exotic citrus fruits have become indispensable in our kitchens. They are full of vitamin C, taste fresh, sometimes sour and can be used in a variety of ways in the kitchen. citrus plants (citrus) are a genus of plants in the rue family (Rutaceae). They come from the tropical and subtropical south-east of Asia and their fruits are often summarized under the collective term citrus.

The best-known representatives of the citrus family are probably lemons (citrus x lemon), limes (citrus × aurantiifolia), oranges (citrus x sinensis), clementines (Citrus x clementina) or tangerines (Citrus reticulata). In addition to these well-known species, citrus fruits have much more to offer. In fact, there are so many variations that it can be difficult to keep track of all the citrus fruits. For example, did you know that not all lime varieties are green and round? Or that the particular lemon variety has Buddha's fist tentacles? In fact, despite their spectacular appearance, many of these special citrus fruit species can even be grown here. Of course, most citrus fruits are only in good hands in the tub culture, as they prefer warm temperatures. If you look at the plants similar to the well-known Lemon tree repotted regularly and otherwise gives them the care they need, nothing stands in the way of the cultivation of the exotic citrus fruits.

Tip: Why are there so many different citrus fruits? Anyone who has taken a closer look at the various citrus fruits and their numerous types quickly raises the question of why the citrus fruit genus is so diverse. In fact, the citrus plants form a so-called “superspecies”: while it usually doesn’t it is possible to freely cross species with each other, the different citrus fruits like to hybridize commonality. In the course of time, there were always accidental crossings in nature, but also deliberate crossings by humans. As a result, an enormous diversity developed over time - but the family relationships are not always very clear.

Cedro: The royal citron 

the citron (Citrus medica) is also called Cedro in Italian and is one of the queens of citrus fruits. The reason for this is the intense aroma and the fresh scent of the lemons, which are rather rare in the supermarket. The peculiarity of this lemon fruit lies in its thick peel, which makes up a large part of the fruit, which can weigh up to four kilos. As the name suggests, lemon peel is made from it, which you probably know from Christmas cookies. Originally, this lemon species probably comes from Southeast Asia, but it was introduced to southern Europe around 70 AD. Cedro is now appreciated all over the world because, like ordinary lemon varieties, it can also be planted in tubs without any problems.

Buddha's Hand: Golden specialty from Asia

If you are looking for a special lemon, you cannot avoid the Buddha's Hand lemon variety: The Buddha's Hand Lemon (Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis) belongs to the genus of citron (Citrus medica) and can be counted among the old citrus species. This particular lemon is thought to have its origins in eastern and southeastern Asia but now as a pot plant worldwide because of its curious appearance and aromatic skin held. Buddha's fist owes its name to its fruit bases, which consist of several arms that develop into the characteristic fingers. The unusual appearance of the plant is due to the fact that the carpels of the citrus plant not fully fused together - each finger thus goes to an ovule in the flower back. These can grow in many different ways: sometimes their “fingers” are stretched out, sometimes they are more like a fist. No fruit looks identical. Fortunately, processing the fruit of the Buddha's hand, which can weigh up to four kilos, is not that difficult: since the fruit mainly has a lot of peel and little If it contains pulp or juice, the Buddha's hand is used in recipes mainly because of its aromatic and not at all bitter-tasting peel abrasion used.

Amalfi Lemons: The great lemons from Italy

The Amalfi lemon (Citrus lemon 'Sfusato Amalfitano') is considered one of the tastiest citrus fruit species in the world. The lemon species from the Amalfi coast is characterized by its slightly shriveled fruits, which are about double or three times the size of standard lemons, mainly because of their aroma: fresh and intense, but relative low acid. In their homeland, the Amalfi lemons are used primarily for the production of limoncello, a traditional lemon liqueur, because of their special taste. But the lemon trees are also an eye-catcher: when the Amalfi lemon is in season, many sections of the Amalfi coast are transformed into a veritable sea of ​​lemon groves with golden-yellow fruits. The Amalfi lemon also cuts a fine figure for us as a potted plant.

Pomelo: The healthy tropical fruit

With their mild flavor, pomelos (Citrus maxima) already found many lovers. In fact, the pomelo is a citrus fruit, which as a variety of grapefruit (Citrus maxima) are to be assigned. The fruits are a breeding from the crossing of the pomelo and the grapefruit (Citrus paradisi). Thanks to this crossbreeding, the fruit is less bitter than grapefruit - when it comes to eating, pomelos are therefore much more popular with many people than the bitter grapefruit. At the same time, the pomelos are among the citrus plant species Fruits with a lot of vitamin C and are therefore particularly good for the immune system. Nowadays, pomelos can be found in almost every well-stocked fruit counter. Did you also know that you can also grow the delicious citrus fruit at home? A guide to peeling and Eating pomelos you can find it in this article.

Tangelo 'Minneola': The orange hybrid

The Tangelo 'Minneola' (Citrus reticula x Citrus paradisi). The striking orange citrus fruit is a cross between the grapefruit variety 'Ducan' and the tangerine 'Dancy'. Crossbreeding the citrus resulted in a relatively tall citrus plant that bears rich orange fruit. The 'Minneola' not only impresses with its appearance, but also with its taste: the juicy citrus fruit has a intense aroma that is characterized by a good sweetness with a delicately tart acidity, which the tangelos also have when growing in pots develop.

Persian Lime: The Easy Care

The citrus fruit with the long leaf, the Persian lime (Citrus latifolia), also called Tahitian lime. It is a lot less demanding than the real lime (Citrus × aurantiifolia) and is therefore one of the types of lime that can also be grown well in Germany. The lime tree is less demanding in terms of light and heat and therefore survives our cold, dark winter a lot more easily. In terms of taste, the Persian lime is in no way inferior to the real lime. The only difference: the fruits of this lime variety are not round, but oval.

Kaffir Lime: The wrinkled variety

One or the other may have stumbled across kaffir lime leaves as an ingredient while reading Far Eastern recipes. the kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix), also known as kaffir lime, is low in juice but very aromatic. However, this lime variety is not really nice to look at. The skin of the fruit is wrinkled and dented. However, the kaffir lime makes up for its special appearance with its intense aroma. The fruits and especially the leaves are very popular in Asian cuisine, for example in Thai curries. If you like to cook with kaffir lime leaves, you can also cultivate the exotic citrus fruit in our pot.

Caviar lime: colorful fingers from Australia

Lime caviar is a luxurious specialty and does not come from fish, but from the fruits of the caviar lime (Microcitrus australasica). Although this exotic fruit is closely related to the citrus family, it is actually not a type of lime at all, but a type of micorcitrus. Because of their origin, the rare citrus fruits are also called Australian finger limes. The oblong fruits of the finger lime contain small, round pearls that really look like caviar and have an intense lime aroma. Caviar limes have an unbelievable variety of varieties: the pulp and skin of the finger limes can be red, green, pink or yellow. Caviar limes need a sheltered, warm location in full sun and tolerate little or no frost. Cultivation in a tub is possible, but ideally a bright conservatory should be available, so that the plant can spend the autumn bright and warm before it goes into hibernation will.

Pursha Lime: The Roman

The Pursha Lime (citrus × lemon ‘Pursha’) is also called Roman lime or sweet lime. In English it is called "Mediterranean sweet lemon". But don't let the name fool you: the juice of this type of lime is not really sweet. Since the Pursha lime plants stay rather small and form a nice, rounded crown, they seem made for growing in pots and can also be grown here. From spring onwards, the lime tree also bears wonderfully fragrant white flowers. The pursha lime is rich in juice and essential oils are extracted from its peel. This type of lime originally comes from Asia, but today it is mainly grown in southern Italy - from Sicily to Rome. Speaking of Italy: The Italian liqueur Limoncello is also often made from the peel of the aromatic Roman lime. Incidentally, in Germany the Pursha lime can also be cultivated as a potted plant like a classic lime tree.

tip: In order for citrus plants to actually produce aromatic fruit, they need enough nutrients. Using a liquid fertilizer is particularly easy and effective for potted plants. Our Plantura Organic citrus & Mediterranean fertilizer is suitable for all common citrus plants and contains all the necessary nutrients. Our organic liquid fertilizer is simply added to the irrigation water and also ensures strengthened roots and resilient plants.

Real lime: The cocktail classic

When you think of limes, the first thing that comes to mind is the “classic” round, green lime. This is the so-called real lime (Citrus aurantifolia) or Mexican lime. This is often used for fruity and sour cocktail creations such as the Caipirinha. Originally at home in the subtropics, the lime can also be grown in pots here. However, the real lime needs a lot of light and warmth, so cultivating these citrus fruits requires a certain amount of sensitivity and expert knowledge.

Tip: Limes are only evergreen in the tropics. That's because of the temperature: While it's almost equally warm in the tropics all year round, the temperatures are just fluctuate from night to day, our plants experience a periodic change from cold to warm Season. However, because the lime plant is particularly light-hungry, its leaves turn yellow in winter as soon as winter gets darker overall.

Rangpur lime: The orange one

Where did the Rangpur Lime (citrus × limonia) exactly originates is unclear. Very likely it is a hybrid of lemon (citrus x limon) and tangerine (Citrus reticulata). This lime is definitely named after the Rangpur region in Bangladesh. The fruits of the Rangpur lime change color from green to yellow-orange, which is why it is also known as "orange lime". The lime even has orange flesh, which tastes sweet at first, but then tastes refreshingly bitter. Incidentally, despite its unusual appearance, the Rangpur lime is not a diva - it can be planted like the real lime in Germany.

Tip: Citrus plants do not tolerate frequent repotting very well and also make special demands on their soil and nutrient supply. We explain in detail how you Repot lemons – You can proceed in the same way for all other citrus plants mentioned here.

Limequat: The little one

Limequats (Citrus floridana)are a hybrid of the real lime and the kumquat (Fortunella margarita). Kumquats are also called dwarf oranges because they are particularly small - but officially they do not belong to the orange species. Limequats inherited their small size from kumquats—the fruit are only two to four centimeters in diameter—and look like tiny miniature limes. As with the kumquat, the whole fruit can be eaten, both the skin and the seeds. The flesh has an intense, very sour taste and the peel has the penetrating taste of lime. Mainly because limequats are much more cold-resistant than their mother the lime, the cultivation of the lime tree is also possible with us.

Lumie: The sweet lime

Among the various citrus fruits, the Lumie (citruslumia) to the varieties that are not very well known in this country. In fact, the sweet lime has a lot to offer: It has a mild, lime-like taste, with a lot of sweetness and only a little acidity. Due to their fresh, sweet taste, citrus fruits are often used in juice or as part of cocktails. However, the juice can lose its sweetness after just a few minutes in the air, so it is only suitable for direct consumption. If you want to experience the delicate taste of the Lumie fresh, you can also cultivate the citrus fruit as a potted plant with us.

Amanatsu: The Japanese rarity

One of the rare citrus fruits is definitely the Amanatsu (Citrus natsudaidai): The hybrid of grapefruit and tangerine is grown commercially only in southern Japan. It is loved for its versatile, intense aroma, which is bitter, sweet and sour at the same time. In addition, the rare citrus fruit is easy to peel, making it ideal for direct consumption. In our area, the plant is so far only known to enthusiasts. In fact, the Amanatsu is considered to be more robust than many common types of citrus fruit, so that it can also be cultivated here.

Jaffa Orange: The Seedless

Anyone looking for a special kind of orange (citrus x sinensis) on the lookout, you should take a closer look at the Jaffa orange – also known as the Shamouti orange. The orange variety is grown for its almost seedless fruit and sweet taste and is considered an excellent eating orange. In fact, the majority of the edible oranges sold in Germany are Jaffa oranges, as the seedless fruit is considered particularly tasty. The Jaffa orange comes from the district of Tel Aviv in Jerusalem of the same name and is itself the namesake of the well-known sponge cake "Jaffa cake". The freshly squeezed juice of the Jaffa orange is also an aromatic delight. However, Jaffa orange juice is not suitable for storage because it becomes bitter over time. If you want to enjoy the taste of the Jaffa orange fresh from the tree, you can cultivate the plant in a pot like an ordinary orange tree.

Now that we've whetted your appetite for exotic fruits, here's more information on a few Fruits you've probably never heard of.
If you want to support your immune system, you will also find 15 Fruit varieties with a particularly large amount of vitamin C.