Blog by Michelle Schlegel
Quite a few years ago, at a local nursery, I stumbled across a Finger Lime tree. I hadn’t heard of these before, so of course, I had to buy it.
Citrus australasica is the botanical name with common names of Finger Lime or Caviar Lime. This thorny, understory shrub or small tree is native to subtropical rainforests in parts of Australia. Since they have made their way into cultivation in California and Florida, we can now enjoy this unusual fruit.
Finger Limes prefer a minimum of 6-8 hours of sun per day, and some protection from the hottest times of the day may be appreciated. Plant in well-draining soil, regular and consistent watering, but not over-watering, as they are susceptible to root rot. Protect finger limes from temperatures below 32 degrees. They are self-fertile, therefore don’t require wind or bugs for pollination. I prefer to trim my Finger Lime to reduce to a more manageable size and shape. Mine is in a half-barrel and will grow to 6-8 feet. If they are planted in the ground, they may reach 12 plus feet. BEWARE when trimming or picking the fruit, they have numerous thorns on their branches! Finger Limes, like all Citrus, are susceptible to scale, aphids, mealybugs, and ACP. Keep a close eye out for these problems, especially Asian Citrus Psyllid.
The fruit is about 3 inches long and resembles a finger or a small pickle. Inside the thin skin are round vesicles bursting with a tart, citrusy flavor. Several cultivars are becoming available with vesicle colors of red, pink, and various shades of green.
Finger Limes are currently highly sought after by upscale grocery stores, hotels, bars, and chefs at fine dining restaurants. This citrus caviar is being used as a sauce addition, a topping, enhancing flavors, and in cocktails. The current online price per pound of mature Finger Limes, depending on the color and variety, is $125.00 per pound! Quite impressive for growing this unusual backyard fruit.