Most of the modern citrus species that we are familiar with including lemon, lime, and orange evolved in the southeast Asian countries of India, China and Malaysia, among others. But across the ocean in contrarian Australia, home of such evolutionary oddities as platypus and kangaroos, natural selection took a left turn and decided to create something completely unique, the Finger Lime or Citrus australasica. Native to the subtropical rainforests of Queensland and New South Wales, this sausage-like citrus was used as a food source and topical to treat skin abrasions by indigenous peoples. Early settlers were quick to adapt to this native crop and often retained existing trees while clearing the land for farming. However, it would remain a rarity until the turn of the last century, when unusual ingredients were being actively sought after by globetrotting gourmets.
(📸 MK Lascelle)
This is when this obscure fruit started to be grown commercially and was marketed as the caviar of citrus. The fruits are quite unique for this plant family, much resembling a pea pod which are produced in a myriad of colours including black, green, burgundy-red, pink and even bright yellow. Once split open, they reveal caviar-like vesicles or round translucent pearls that can be sprinkled onto salads, desserts (they’re great on vanilla ice cream) or fresh oysters, although they are most commonly found in mixed cocktails. These tiny spheres explode with a unique lemon-lime taste when bitten, punching well above their size for flavour, so that moniker as the caviar of citrus is actually well deserved.
(📸 Amada 44 Wikimedia)
Their care is much the same as most citrus species, although they require less fertilizer (use lower phosphorus) and should never be fed while flowering or when the fruit is just forming, as this may cause both to drop. At a USDA zone 9 hardiness, finger limes are much more sensitive to the cold and because they are native to subtropical rainforests they prefer high humidity and need to be misted regularly. As far as availability is concerned, they are extremely rare in cultivation and named varieties are even harder to come by. Which is why we are so excited at Amsterdam Garden Centre to be able to offer you eight different varieties, as well as the equally scarce Australian Blood Lime. The latter is a hybrid of red finger lime (Citrus australasica var. sanguinea) and either the Ellendale mandarin or the Rangpur lime. The resulting plant much resembles finger lime foliage but produces very unique 2” long egg-shaped fruits with burgundy-red skin and a spicy flavour unlike any other citrus.
(📸 Carl Davies CSIRO Wikimedia)
Here are brief descriptions of the finger lime cultivars we have available at this time, all of which can be secured by ordering online, as these are in very short supply and are offered on a first come, first served basis.
Byron Sunrise
This popular variety has fairly long (up to 3.5”) reddish-black fruits with smaller, dark red vesicles and tends to crop quite prolifically.
Citron Caviar
A mystery variety that was substituted last minute, it shows good vigour, and we expect it to produce white to pale yellow vesicles with a lemon flavour.
(📸 IvarLeidusWikimedia)
D’Emerald
This dense growing cultivar produces slender blackish-green fingers with emerald-green vesicles that are both tangy and quite juicy, as well as easy to extract.
Little Ruby
A compact variety ideal for container culture with green-skinned fruits that open to stunning rosy-red vesicles that look and taste great in any green salad.
Pink Pearl
The dark green to maroon-skinned fingers are fairly long (3-4”) and produce pink to red vesicles with a unique bitter grapefruit flavour that works well in cocktails.
(📸 Ivar the Boneful Wikimedia)
Red Champagne
A very popular variety with dark red skin and reddish-pink vesicles that intensify in color in cooler weather and have a very long shelf life.
Tasty Green
One of the largest finger limes we are offering with green skin (often with yellow highlights) and pale lime vesicles bearing a slightly acidic flavour. This variety can produce year-round when given ideal growing conditions.
Yellow
This easy to grow cultivar produces fruits that look like elongated lemons which open to medium to large-sized vesicles with a subtle lemon flavour.
All of our finger and blood limes are self-fertile and are in stock right now, so feel free to visit the nursery and shop in person.
Copyright 2025 MK Lascelle
