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Variety fit — Iowa

Can I grow Key Lime in Iowa?

The verdict

Not recommended

  • Your zone 5b is colder than this variety's hardiness range (zones 8–11); winter cold may damage or kill the tree.

Based on Iowa’s main growing area (50309): zone 5b, ~1,400 chill hours. Your exact site may differ — check your ZIP.

The numbers

Key Lime requirements vs. Iowa climate
Key Lime hardinessUSDA zones 8–11
Iowa average chill (50309)1,400 hours (1,194–1,671 across 10 winters)
Iowa zone (50309)USDA zone 5b
USDA pomological watercolor of Key Lime citrus
Citrus aurantiifolia: KeyUSDA pomological watercolor, Mary Daisy Arnold, 1916 · USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection

Keep checking

Or the same verdict for another region:

Questions

Can I grow Key Lime in Iowa?
Probably not — Your zone 5b is colder than this variety's hardiness range (zones 8–11); winter cold may damage or kill the tree.

Sources

  1. [1] Open-Meteo / Copernicus ERA5. Historical Weather API (hourly 2m temperature) — accessed July 2026
  2. [2] USDA / PRISM (Oregon State University). 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map — accessed July 2026
  3. [3] Four Winds Growers. Mexican Key Lime Tree — product page — accessed July 2026