A novelty citrus more than a serious crop — the caviar-like pearls inside are the whole appeal, when there’s fruit to show for it at all.
The Basics
Finger lime, Citrus australasica, is a small citrus tree in the family Rutaceae. Ours was the pink-fleshed variety.
Origin and Habitat
Native to the rainforests of Queensland and New South Wales in Australia, where it grows as an understory shrub, often in rocky or poor soil.
What It Looks Like
A small, sometimes thorny tree with slender, finger-shaped fruit. Cut one open and instead of typical citrus pulp you get tiny round juice vesicles that spill out like caviar.
Uses and Flavor
The pearls are used as a garnish or finishing touch on dishes and drinks more than eaten on their own, which is really the whole draw of growing this over a regular lime.
Growing It Here
This pink variety was one of several citrus we planted alongside Meyer’s lemon, Tahitian lime, Buddha’s hand, navel orange, and tangelo. Unfortunately, it died due to drought conditions, it’s a rainforest understory plant by nature and just didn’t get the consistent moisture it needed here. We still have an unusual brown river finger lime from Papua New Guinea, a rounder relative of the typical pointy finger lime, so the finger lime story on this farm isn’t over, just down to one variety for now.
Pests and Diseases to Watch For
Drought stress, not pests, was what got this one. Being citrus, it can otherwise be prone to the usual leaf miner and scale issues.
Kenta’s Take
It was a small tree with an outsized party trick, and losing it to drought was a good reminder that even citrus, generally tough stuff, has its limits if the water isn’t consistent. The brown river finger lime is up next to prove the concept again.