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Variety fit — Pennsylvania

Can I grow Key Lime citrus in Pennsylvania?

The verdict

Not recommended

  • Your zone 7a is colder than this variety's hardiness range (zones 8–11); winter cold may damage or kill the tree.

Based on Pennsylvania’s main growing area (17325): zone 7a, ~1,708 chill hours. Your exact site may differ — check your ZIP.

The numbers

Key Lime requirements vs. Pennsylvania climate
Key Lime hardinessUSDA zones 8–11
Pennsylvania average chill (17325)1,708 hours (1,460–1,926 across 10 winters)
Pennsylvania zone (17325)USDA zone 7a
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 citrus in Pennsylvania?
Probably not — Your zone 7a 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