How to Grow Finger Lime
Citrus australasica
Finger lime is a thorny Australian citrus producing finger-shaped fruit filled with pearl-like vesicles bursting with citrus flavour. Grow in a large container with specialist citrus compost and excellent drainage. Place outdoors in full sun from late May to September, then move to a bright frost-free location over winter (minimum 5°C). Feed every two weeks with citrus fertiliser in spring and summer and water with rainwater when the top 2cm of compost is dry. Harvest when fruit skin is fully coloured and the fruit twists off easily.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Citrus fertiliser in spring and again in early summer. Reduce or stop feeding in autumn and winter.
Watch For
- Scale insects
- Mealybug
- Red spider mite
- Leaf drop from cold or overwatering
- Aphids
Companions
Basil, Lemon grass, Marigolds
Track your Finger Lime care schedule — pruning, feeding, and seasonal tasks
Start planning freeCare Requirements
☀️ Light
Full sun; 6+ hours daily; outdoors in summer, brightest spot in winter
Full sun is essential — a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Place outdoors in the sunniest position from late May to September. In winter, provide the brightest indoor location available.
💧 Watering
Water when top 2cm dry; reduce in winter; rainwater preferred
Water when the top 2cm of compost is dry. Use rainwater where possible. Water more freely in summer, especially in hot weather. Reduce significantly in winter but never let the rootball dry out completely.
🌱 Fertilizing
Citrus fertiliser every 2 weeks spring–summer
Feed every two weeks with a specialist citrus fertiliser from spring through summer. Citrus are heavy feeders and magnesium deficiency (yellowing leaves with green veins) is common — use a fertiliser with added trace elements.
✂️ Pruning
Light prune after harvest; wear gloves due to thorns
Prune lightly after fruiting in autumn. Remove dead, diseased, and crossing branches. Shape to maintain an open, airy canopy. The plant has thorns — wear gloves.
❄️ Overwintering
Bring indoors before first frost; minimum 5°C; bright location
Not frost-hardy. Bring containers indoors before the first frost to a bright, frost-free position (minimum 5°C, ideally 10°C). Avoid warm centrally-heated rooms which cause leaf drop. Ventilate on mild days.
Growing Tips
Unique citrus — handle the fruit gently
The pearl-like vesicles inside finger limes are delicate. Harvest with a gentle twist and refrigerate promptly. Use within a few days for best flavour and texture.
Container growing is key in the UK
Finger lime is half-hardy and must be grown in a container so it can be moved indoors before the first frost. Use a large pot with citrus compost and ensure drainage holes are clear.
Full sun and warmth
Finger lime originates from subtropical Australia and needs maximum warmth and sun. A south-facing wall or patio provides the ideal sheltered, sunny microclimate.
Watch for thorns
The plant has sharp thorns on its branches. Wear gloves when pruning or handling. Check for thorny suckers at the base and remove promptly before they dominate.
Pests & Diseases
Pest Scale Insects
Identification: Small brown or white waxy bumps on stems and leaf undersides; sticky honeydew and sooty mould
- Wipe off with a damp cloth or cotton bud dipped in methylated spirit
- Spray with plant oil-based insecticide
- Apply systemic insecticide containing acetamiprid in spring
Pest Mealybug
Identification: White cottony masses in leaf axils and on stems; sticky honeydew and sooty mould
- Dab with methylated spirit on a cotton bud
- Introduce Cryptolaemus montrouzieri as biological control
- Spray with fatty acid-based insecticide, ensuring good coverage
Pest Red Spider Mite
Identification: Fine webbing on leaf undersides; leaves develop pale stippling and may drop
- Mist foliage regularly to raise humidity
- Introduce Phytoseiulus persimilis predatory mites
- Spray with plant oil-based miticide, repeating every 7 days
Disease Root Rot Phytophthora spp.
Symptoms: Yellowing leaves, wilting despite wet compost, dark mushy roots; plant declines
Treatment: Repot into fresh, free-draining citrus compost; trim away rotten roots; reduce watering
Prevention: Use well-draining compost with added perlite; never let pots sit in water; water only when top 2cm is dry
Disease Sooty Mould Capnodium spp.
Symptoms: Black powdery coating on leaves and stems, growing on honeydew from sap-sucking insects
Treatment: Wipe leaves clean with a damp cloth; control the underlying pest (scale or mealybug)
Prevention: Monitor and treat sap-sucking pests promptly; improve ventilation around the plant
Spacing & Planting
| Plant spacing | 250 cm |
| Row spacing | 300 cm |
| Mature height | 400 cm |
| Mature spread | 300 cm |
Small tree or large shrub 2-6m. Space 2.5-3m for garden planting; can be grown in large containers.
Log Finger Lime in your garden — track growth, care, and harvests year after year
Start planning free