How to grow Finger Lime in New Zealand
Finger lime (Citrus australasica) is a thorny Australian rainforest citrus with slender fruit, 6 to 10 cm long, packed with tiny juice vesicles known as citrus caviar that pop in the mouth with a tart lime flavour. It is frost tender, so in New Zealand it grows outdoors best in the warm north, or in a pot that can be moved under cover in winter. It is slow to fruit but makes an attractive, easily trimmed shrub.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Finger Lime in New Zealand
At a glance
When to plant by region
| Region | When to plant | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| Northland | October to December | |
| Auckland | October to December | |
| Waikato & Bay of Plenty | October to December | |
| Central North Island | Not suited | Too frosty for finger lime outdoors. Grow it in a pot moved under cover for winter. |
| Wellington & Lower North Island | October to December | |
| Nelson & Marlborough | October to December | |
| Canterbury | November | Marginal. Plant in November in a warm sheltered spot or a pot you can move under cover, and protect it from frost. |
| Otago & Southland | Not suited | Too frost tender for outdoors here. Keep it in a pot moved under cover for winter. |
| Central Otago | Not suited | Hard frosts rule out finger limes outdoors. Keep one in a pot under cover over winter. |
Not to be confused with: Lime Tree, the common Tahitian or Bearss lime, which is a different citrus with round fruit.
Where to plant
Plant finger lime in a warm, sheltered spot in full sun or part shade, in well-drained, slightly acidic soil rich in organic matter. As a rainforest understorey plant it tolerates some shade, but it is frost tender. In colder areas grow it in a pot that can be moved under cover for winter.
- Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty, Wellington, and Nelson and Marlborough: plant from October to December in a warm, sheltered spot, with frost protection for young plants where light frosts occur.
- Canterbury: marginal. Plant in November in a warm, sheltered spot, or in a pot you can move under cover, and protect it from frost.
- Central North Island, Otago and Southland, and Central Otago: too frosty outdoors. Keep it in a pot moved under cover for winter.
Choosing a variety
Grafted plants fruit sooner and more reliably than seedlings. Finger limes vary more in colour than any other citrus, and named forms and hybrids range from pale green and yellow to pink, red and deep blue-green. Specialist citrus nurseries sell named forms.
How to plant
- Dig compost into a well-drained, sheltered spot.
- Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and to the same depth, and tease out circling roots.
- Plant at the same depth as before, with any graft union above the soil, and water in well.
- Mulch in spring and autumn to hold moisture and suppress weeds, keeping it clear of the trunk.
- Wear gloves when handling, as the stems are thorny.
Watering and feeding
Keep the soil evenly moist, especially in summer and while fruit develops, but never waterlogged. Potted plants need watering more often.
Like other citrus, finger limes are heavy feeders. Feed three or four times a year with a citrus fertiliser or manure, from spring to autumn.
Pruning and care through the year
- Trim to keep the shrub a manageable shape; it responds well to pruning.
- Spray alternately with an organic copper spray and an organic oil spray to help prevent fungal diseases and sap-sucking insects.
- Protect young plants from frost with frost cloth, or move pots under cover.
Harvesting
Fruit usually ripens in autumn and into winter. It is ripe when it colours up and comes away from the branch with a gentle twist. Pick over several weeks as the fruit ripens.
Cut a fruit in half and squeeze out the pearls.
Growing in pots
Finger lime suits a large pot at least 40 cm wide with free-draining citrus or potting mix, which lets you move it under cover in winter in colder districts. Water regularly, feed with a citrus food and keep it trimmed.
Using it
Scatter the tangy pearls over oysters, seafood, salads, sushi, desserts and cocktails, where they add bursts of lime flavour.
Pests and diseases
Finger lime shares the usual citrus pests.
Pests to watch for
- Leaf miner Silvery, winding trails in new leaves, which curl and distort.
- Scale Small bumps on stems and leaves, with sticky honeydew and sooty mould.
- Guava moth Larvae tunnelling into fruit, mainly in the upper North Island.
Diseases to watch for
- Melanose Small, raised, dark specks on leaves and fruit, from dead twigs in the canopy. Prune out dead wood.
Common questions
Can I grow finger lime in New Zealand?
Yes, outdoors in warm, sheltered gardens in the North Island and Nelson, and in a pot moved under cover for winter in colder areas. It is frost tender.
How long does finger lime take to fruit?
Grafted plants usually fruit within about two years or more; seedlings take longer. It is slow to start.
When is finger lime ripe?
Usually in autumn and into winter, when the fruit has coloured and comes away with a gentle twist.
How do you eat finger lime?
Cut it in half and squeeze out the tiny juice pearls. Use them on seafood, salads, desserts and drinks.
Can finger lime grow in shade?
It tolerates part shade, as it grows naturally in rainforest understorey, but fruits best with good sun and warmth.
Sources we checked: Incredible Edibles (Tharfield Nursery): Citrus, including finger lime; Waimea Nurseries: How to grow citrus; Wikipedia: Citrus australasica.