Excalibur Red Lime vs. Eustis Limequat?

[Cdg4dq]

I’m looking to add a lime-like citrus variety to my cold-hardy collection here in zone 8a NC. What are folks’ experience growing these two varieties? Specifically, any comments on:

- ease of cultivation
- flavor
- overall utility (i.e. lime substitute, able to eat out of hand, edible rind, ability to hold on the tree, etc.)

Thanks!

[murahilin]

I’m looking to add a lime-like citrus variety to my cold-hardy collection here in zone 8a NC. What are folks’ experience growing these two varieties? Specifically, any comments on:

- ease of cultivation
- flavor
- overall utility (i.e. lime substitute, able to eat out of hand, edible rind, ability to hold on the tree, etc.)

Thanks!

I've tried both. The Eustis tasts pretty close to a key lime. It's been years since I've had the Excalibur Red Lime though. It was good but I don't remember it tasting like a key lime or a persian lime.

[Tropicaltoba]

Red lime-unique, seedy, can be eaten out of hand. Makes unique cocktails (interesting Lemon/lime sub). Tree looks nice ripe fruits are very bright. Also eating the sweet tasting peel has a weird numbing effect.
Limequat-like a small Persian lime with less juice,I got rid of mine.

[Flgarden]

I have not tried Eustis, but red lime is great and nothing like lime. The skin is like kumquat sweet and thin, orange color. Inside is orange and sweet just enough to eat. For comparison, i can't eat calamansi or limes.
I bought the tree after trying it.

[brian]

I have not tried Eustis, but red lime is great and nothing like lime. The skin is like kumquat sweet and thin, orange color. Inside is orange and sweet just enough to eat. For comparison, i can't eat calamansi or limes.
I bought the tree after trying it.

Yes, I agree with Flgarden, they are completely different.  Red Lime is more like an orangequat, while Eustis has true lime flavor and is an acceptable substitute for Bears/Persian or Key/Mexican lime.  I have a Lakeland limquat and it makes nice single-use limes. 

Remember that some places refer to any sour citrus as lime, even orange flavored ones.

[MadisonCitrusNursery]

Excalibur is also an incredibly productive as well, much like nippon orangequat and as mentioned above it makes a gorgeous tree.  I personally have a potted Excalibur and just wish I could find a better use for them because of how pretty of a tree and productive they are.  I may try to make some marmalade with them next year and see how that rangpur influence plays with that.

"has a weird numbing effect" its funny how the rangpur influence comes through like that.  I describe it as a little burn that reminds you you just ate one.  Its one of those weird things that makes you want another one.

-L

[Flgarden]

Marmalade is what i have in my mind for red lime!

[murahilin]

I stopped by Excalibur this afternoon to see if they had any ripe fruit on their red lime trees to be able to post some pics, but they did not.

[Cdg4dq]

I have not tried Eustis, but red lime is great and nothing like lime. The skin is like kumquat sweet and thin, orange color. Inside is orange and sweet just enough to eat. For comparison, i can't eat calamansi or limes.
I bought the tree after trying it.

Yes, I agree with Flgarden, they are completely different.  Red Lime is more like an orangequat, while Eustis has true lime flavor and is an acceptable substitute for Bears/Persian or Key/Mexican lime.

Thanks for sharing! Would you say the flavor is similar to a Nippon Orangequat? I have one of those but haven’t tasted the fruit yet? Do they have similar flavors/uses? I’ve got limited sheltered space, so trying to maximize diversity.

[brian]

Thanks for sharing! Would you say the flavor is similar to a Nippon Orangequat? I have one of those but haven’t tasted the fruit yet? Do they have similar flavors/uses? I’ve got limited sheltered space, so trying to maximize diversity.

I can only say they both have "orange taste", as opposed to "lemon taste" or "lime taste" (i.e. grocery store lime).  Red Lime I think is more sour than orangequat, but if you leave it on the tree to hang a long time it gets sweet enough to eat out of hand.  I wouldn't really consider it a fresh eating fruit, though.  I have condemned mine to being an ornamental, and bonsai'ed it

Excalibur is also an incredibly productive as well, much like nippon orangequat and as mentioned above it makes a gorgeous tree.  I personally have a potted Excalibur and just wish I could find a better use for them because of how pretty of a tree and productive they are.  I may try to make some marmalade with them next year and see how that rangpur influence plays with that.

"has a weird numbing effect" its funny how the rangpur influence comes through like that.  I describe it as a little burn that reminds you you just ate one.  Its one of those weird things that makes you want another one.

It really is pretty, and productive.  I have mine in a tray and at 2ft tall it makes plenty of fruit.

That numbing/tingling effect I think is coming from the kumquat parentage.  I noticed that other kumquats do this, especially Nagami.  I wonder if it is the same chemical as in szechuan peppercorns, which is also a Rutacae.   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sichuan_pepper;  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroxy-alpha_sanshool

I stopped by Excalibur this afternoon to see if they had any ripe fruit on their red lime trees to be able to post some pics, but they did not.

Mine has a crop right now.  I don't bother picking them until months after they turn orange. They do start to get a slightly reddish eventually.  This one fruit has been hanging all winter, I just picked and ate it.  Tastes ok.  Still pretty sour, and seedy. 

[countryboy1981]

My red lime tastes nothing like a "lime" but is much better than my nippon orangequat which I am not a fan of.  My lakeland limequat is very much like a key lime.