Citrus hybrid ‘Excalibur Red Lime’

The Florida background of ‘Excalibur Red Lime’

‘Excalibur Red Lime’ is a modern cultivated citrus associated with Excalibur Rare Fruit Tree Nursery in Lake Worth, Florida.

It is reported to be a cross between Rangpur lime and kumquat.

Growing Excalibur Red Lime indoors

• Light: Give the plant the brightest indoor position available, with direct sun and gradual acclimation after a dim period. Consistent bright light keeps new shoots compact and supports flowering and developing fruit.
• Watering: Rewater when the upper mix has dried, the pot feels lighter and the centre has become lightly moist. Wet the mix thoroughly and let the whole pot drain freely.
• Roots and repotting: Use an airy citrus mix. Move it to a pot only slightly larger when roots fill the current container or the mix begins drying unevenly.
• Temperature and humidity: Keep the plant warm and frost-free while it is growing. If temperatures and light levels fall, growth can slow. Maintain moderate humidity indoors and keep the crown clear of direct heating.
• Feeding and shaping: Feed while shoots, flowers or fruit are developing, following the citrus-fertiliser label. Prune selectively after new growth has firmed up or after harvest, and support fruiting branches that begin to bow.

Excalibur Red Lime problems and first actions

• Leaves yellow while the pot remains heavy: Fine roots may be short of oxygen in compacted or persistently wet potting mix. Empty any standing water and inspect the roots if yellowing continues. Soft dark roots or a sour smell point to decay. If decay is present, use clean, disinfected tools to cut away soft or rotten tissue back to firm, healthy tissue and discard the removed material. Then follow the root-rot guide.
• Green leaves or young fruit drop suddenly: A severe dry spell, abrupt relocation, cold draught or waterlogged roots can all trigger shedding. Stabilise the plant in bright light and check how wet the mix is below the surface before changing either watering or fertilising.
• Leaf edges become crisp after feeding: Concentrated fertiliser or accumulated salts can burn fine roots and show first at the margins. Pause feeding and make sure drainage is open. Once the mix is drying normally, water it thoroughly with clean water and let it drain.
• Sticky residue, cottony deposits or shell-like bumps appear: Check the crown for mealybugs and scale, including leaf joints and woody stems. Keep ‘Excalibur Red Lime’ separate from nearby plants and remove the insects you can see. If further treatment is needed, use a product labelled for the identified pest and the plant, and repeat only according to the label. Use the mealybug guide to check whether cottony deposits are active colonies.

If the cause is still unclear, send us clear photos of the whole plant, the affected area and the potting mix so we can help you narrow it down.

Keep Citrus hybrid ‘Excalibur Red Lime’ away from pets

• The fruit flesh is edible, while leaves, peel and other plant material can irritate cats and dogs.
• These parts contain essential oils and psoralens that may cause vomiting, stomach pain, unusual tiredness or skin irritation.
• Contact a veterinarian if a pet chews the plant or develops symptoms. Seek medical advice if a person becomes unwell after exposure.

Who first published Citrus, and what does the name mean?

Citrus is the classical Latin name used for citron and related citrus plants.

Carl Linnaeus established the genus Citrus in 1753 in Species Plantarum, page 782.