Spanish Lime, Quenepa (Melicoccus bijugatus)

4.3
Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars
13 Reviews
Regular price $18.95
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Spanish Lime, Quenepa, Genep or Mamoncillo, is an evergreen or semi-deciduous tree (related to Lychee and Longan) native to northern South America that has naturalized throughout Central America and the Caribbean. It is planted primarily for its edible, green fruits that grow in abundance on the branches from summer through fall.

The flowers bloom in mid to late spring and develop into lime-green fruits. You can tell when they’re ripe when the rind becomes brittle and is easily removed from the sweet orange pulp. It is mainly eaten fresh, but can also be made into juice, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, jam, and syrup. Both fruit and leaves are used in traditional medicines as well for many physical issues and as a pesticide.

Quenepa grows best in full sun to partial shade in deep, calcareous soils. It will naturally grow to 40 feet with a wide-spreading crown in its native habitat, but generally 6 to 12 feet when planted, and can be pruned to a good container size. Spanish Lime trees are male or female, so it’s recommended to plant more than one tree to assure fruit production. They are hardy in USDA zones 9 to 12.

Plant Type:
Tropical/Subtropical Fruit Tree

Harvest Season:
Summer, Fall

Flowers bloom in mid-late spring, bearing fruit mid-summer through fall. There is no color change when the fruit are ripe. Tasting is the most reliable method of identifying ripeness. The fruit are more tart than sweet when not ripe. The rind becomes somewhat more brittle when ripe.

Mature Size:
Typically grown and maintained up to 6-12 ft tall with a canopy spread of up to 4 ft. Can grow up to 40 ft in native landscape or if allowed.

Soil & Moisture:
Rich well-draining soil with lots of water, especially during hotter months.

Light Requirements:
Full Sun, Part Shade

Self-Fertile:
Yes and No. A few cultivars are self-fruitful.  However with seedlings, both male and female trees are usually needed and even self-fruitful cultivars do better with a second male nearby. At this stage in the plants growth, there is no way to tell the gender, so we recommend getting multiple plants for the best chances of future fruit!

Growth Rate:
Medium, Slow

Zone Hardiness:
Outdoors 9-12 with frost protection until established; Patio/Greenhouse 4+

Young trees are hardy only to 32°F. Cold hardiness gradually improves with age, and very old trees may withstand 20°F, although small branches and leaves will be killed.

Propagation:
Our Spanish Lime is grown from seed and capable to fruit in about 5 years. 

4.3
Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars
Based on 13 reviews
Total 5 star reviews: 10 Total 4 star reviews: 0 Total 3 star reviews: 1 Total 2 star reviews: 1 Total 1 star reviews: 1
77%would recommend this product
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13 reviews
  • DC
    Dennis C.
    Verified Buyer
    I recommend this product
    Years Gardening 10+
    Grown This Variety Before? No
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    8 months ago
    Spanish lime

    Cute little tree,love it I need to figure out if it's male or female may need to order another one according to what I read

  • V
    Veronica
    I do not recommend this product
    Rated 2 out of 5 stars
    1 week ago
    2 Stars

    It’s alive. I bought and had it shipped to my son in Florida. As I’m in Alabama, I can’t know how it’s doing

  • L
    Lisa
    I recommend this product
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    6 months ago
    5 Stars

    Perfect condition

  • GM
    Glen M.
    Verified Buyer
    I recommend this product
    Years Gardening 1-5
    Grown This Variety Before? No
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    8 months ago
    Very pleased

    Arrived in great shape, still doing well a week later. In my growing zone (currently 107 degrees) may be a challenge but that's me.

    Very pleased with product, service, communication.

  • D
    Daniel
    I do not recommend this product
    Rated 1 out of 5 stars
    12 months ago
    1 Star

    tried to get a refund because I thought it was the fruit turns out it the plant and here's the kicker it take 8 years to grow the fruit

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