You may want to consider a third choice. Look for one fairly new to California called the "Castello Lime" the fruit is a little larger than the mexican lime and it is seedless like the bearss. If you decide on the mexican lime try to get the "thornless" version. It usually produces less fruit but still should be enough for personal use as they don't hold on the tree for long periods anyways. But when it comes time to prune and harvest you will be happier with no thorns.

Yes, the Palestine lime would most likely be what you ate in Iran. They taste sort of like watered down, very sweet lemonade. I have a Palestine lime in my yard that gets very little attention, and produces large amounts of limes. It is fairly fragrant, but it tends to get overpowered by the Meyer lemon tree right next to it which is very fragrant :-) Patt S.

There is something to be said for "singing." Many vineyards pipe classical music out to the vines so the grapes will be rich and fruity. Our vines this year are heavy with fruit, but the only singing they got was that of the wind. I know a LOT more about grape growing than I do about citrus, but plants are plants. One Aussie Vineyard with holds water for days until the vine droops. It thinks it's dying, so all the energy goes into the fruit. Then they water, and stop. Over and over. I vote for a half bark girdle first. Next, I'd try piping music out there. It's a Mexican lime, so try a little salsa music. Last, I'd plant a little competition really close, and if the competition bears, I'd say good-bye to that lime and use it in the BBQ smoker. OK, so I'm editing. Patty is 100% right. That tree needs sun! Think about it. A Key Lime... All there is in the Florida Keys is sun! No shade. I don't think the "tree don't like you, Senor." I think it wants a sunny spot! Suzi Here is a link that might be useful: Vineyard Irrigation Program This post was edited by desertdance on Thu, May 23, 13 at 14:50

According to the "book" and what I've read thornless don't yield as much. Whether it's enough to matter to the average homeowner I don't know. Also IME Persian Limes (especially) & Key Limes are very underrated for their cold hardiness. TRUE Lemons are over rated. I have about 20 citrus trees in the ground and my Tahitian lime is one of the hardiest & most cold hardy here in zone 9B. The only citrus trees I have ever lost to low temps were a full sized Harvey Lemon and a mid sized Varney Navel tree back in our record 2010 freeze here when he got down to about 20. Nothing else even got burned. I have seen a lot of nurseries saying Tahitian limes are cold sensitive and I have not found that to be the case. Lemons I have.