Finger lime
Citrus australasica
Caviar-like pearls of lime juice; grows well in a pot.
Hardiness: zones 9 to 11
Light: part shade
Size: about 10 ft tall, 8 ft wide
Harvest: October to December
From: Australia
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: food.
Native to: Australia. Hardy in zones 9 to 11.
The story
Finger lime grows in the rainforests of the Queensland and New South Wales border, where Bundjalung people ate the tart caviar-like pulp and used it medicinally; chefs discovered it in the 1990s and it is now Australia's best-known bush food.
Planting
Part shade or morning sun, drained acid soil, and shelter; it is an understory tree to 15 feet. Plant a grafted variety for colour and vigour.
Growing
Water evenly and mulch; it dislikes drought and hot afternoon sun. Prune lightly; the thorns are serious.
Harvest and use
Fruit ripens over autumn and winter; it is ready when it comes off with a gentle pull. Slice and squeeze out the beads over oysters, fish or drinks.
What to watch for
Thorns, scale, and frost below about 28°F.
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More tropical and subtropical food plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home