The Plant Company grows, sells, and ships Finger Lime trees throughout NZ. We pride ourselves on producing high quality plants and seeing the joy from our customers when they receive them. We do hope you enjoy them and support this NZ business that is passionate about Finger Lime trees.
Citrus australasica, commonly known as the Finger or Caviar Lime, is an evergreen shrub grown for its unusual fruit which are regarded as a food...
The Finger Lime trees are evergreen shrubs grown for their unusual fruit which are regarded as a food delicacy. The oblong fruit have caviar-like flesh which is juicy with a tangy, lemon-lime flavour. They can be harvested when green in winter or allowed to mature which will produce rose-pink flesh with a sharper taste. The fruit are borne from small, pink-white flowers which are produced amidst the small and glossy, dark green foliage. The leaves are held densely on slender stems. It typically grows to 2 m tall and the same wide, and can be contained with trimming as necessary. Best results with this variety are achieved when it is planted in full sun on a well-drained, semi-sheltered site. It will tolerate moderate frost once established but should be protected while it is establishing. A Finger Lime tree is commonly added to a mixed planting, planted around outdoor living areas, maintained in a container, or grown as a small specimen.
Finger lime trees are a prized inclusion in NZ gardens due to their interesting fruits. The oblong fruit have caviar-like flesh which is juicy with a tangy, lemon-lime flavour. They can be harvested when green in winter or allowed to mature which will produce rose-pink flesh with a sharper taste. Finger Limes are commonly added to a mixed planting, planted around outdoor living areas, maintained in a container, or grown as a small specimen. It is the prickly nature, dense growth habit, and unusual fruits that makes Finger Lime trees an excellent choice for a NZ garden. They are also the perfect way to wow friends who have never experienced the wonderful fruit. Just be sure to watch out for the prickles when picking them.
The Plant Company has the best Finger Lime plants for sale in NZ. Our production nursery specialises in growing amazing plants and our logistics team pack them carefully for our customers. The pricing is competitive and the quality is exceptional. Let us look after your plant needs and impress you with both our products and service!
Finger Lime trees grow amazingly well in NZ. Their preferred positioned is in full sun on a well-drained soil. They are tolerant of frost once established, coastal environments, and humid climates. While they can tolerate some wind, providing them a sheltered spot will help to create a better formed plant that will flower more prolifically and produce more fruit.
The Plant Company does have large grade finger lime trees available to buy in NZ. The plant options in a 25L bag and upwards are three-year old trees and have been manicured so they are dense and well-shaped. Such trees are producing fruit already and they save a year or two of growing them on yourself. Further, they are suitable for growing in large pots as an accent to an area with fruit on-demand.
The time to fruit for an Australian finger Lime depends on the size and age of the plant purchased. Most plants sold at 30 cm tall are one year old. On this basis, it will be another two years before any fruit is produced and this assumes you have them in good growing conditions. It is sometimes worth purchasing a larger grade as those have generally already started fruiting and have been manicured to a nice form.
Finger limes are native to the subtropical rainforests of Australia. Therefore, they thrive in warm, temperate to subtropical regions. This means they prefer areas with mild winters and warm summers. While they can tolerate partial shade, they produce the most fruit when exposed to full sunlight. Finger limes are sensitive to frost, especially when young. However, as they get older, they become less sensitive, though heavy frost areas should be avoided. Similarly, wind protection is important to produce a better formed tree that produces more fruit.
Finger Lime trees will tolerate a mild frost once established, though very young plants should be protected until they are at least 15-25 cm tall. Frost Cloth is a good option for protecting vulnerable plants if you are worried. The Plant Company recommends holding off planting until spring if you are at all worried that new plants might get frosted. Generally speaking, however, a reasonably sized Finger Lime tree planted in spring will cope with moderate frosts the following winter.
Finger Limes will grow well in pots and look fabulous when managed appropriately. Choose a pot that is no less than twice the size of what the Finger Limes is currently growing in and that has plenty of drainage holes in the bottom. Fill the bottom of the pot to about 1/3 of the way up with potting mix. Do not use soil or compost when growing plants in a container and do not add fertiliser. The Plant Company potting mix has all the nutrients required to sustain the plant for the next 12 months.
Remove the plant from the container it is growing in by either pulling it free or by cutting the bag. We recommend cutting the bag, especially for larger grade plants, to minimise any chance of damaging the roots. Place the plant in the hole without removing any of the growing media or cutting the roots. You can tease them apart if you want but this is not essential. If the roots have been circling the inside of the pot or they look totally root bound, you don’t need to cut them. Add more potting mix and firm this around the plant using gentle pressure, then water well. They should be watered twice a week during hot weather and weekly or fortnightly during cooler periods.
Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.