How to grow Finger Lime
Updated October 2026
The finger lime (Citrus australasica, formerly Microcitrus) is a thorny Australian rainforest citrus whose finger shaped fruit is packed with tiny juice vesicles that pop like caviar. Varieties have green, pink, red or purplish pearls. It is frost tender, so it grows outdoors in South and Central Florida, coastal Southern California and Hawaii, and in pots elsewhere. As a citrus, it falls under Asian citrus psyllid and greening quarantines.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Finger Lime
Where to plant
Finger limes grow in full sun to light shade in well drained, slightly acid soil, sheltered from strong wind. They dislike waterlogged soil and frost. At UC Riverside's citrus collection, trees flower from February to April and fruit through much of the year, peaking in November and December.
They grow outdoors in Central and South Florida, coastal and inland Southern California and the Hawaii lowlands, and in sheltered spots in North Florida and the Gulf South with cover on freeze nights. In Northern California, plant in April or May so roots settle before winter, and cover young plants on frosty nights. The low desert is too hot and dry. Elsewhere, grow a finger lime in a pot and bring it under cover for winter.
Citrus quarantines and varieties
Finger limes are citrus and fall under the same rules. The Asian citrus psyllid spreads huanglongbing (HLB, or citrus greening), an incurable citrus disease. As of 1 October 2026, USDA lists all of Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, and parts of Alabama, Arizona, California, Louisiana, South Carolina and Texas, as quarantined for HLB, and a wider area, including all of Arizona, Hawaii, Louisiana and Texas and much of California, for the psyllid. Inside these areas, citrus plants cannot be moved out. Buy finger limes only from a licensed nursery in your own state, use certified disease free stock, and never bring in plants, cuttings or budwood from elsewhere.
Named varieties differ mainly in rind and pearl color, from green and yellow to pink, red and purple. Grafted trees of a named variety give predictable fruit; seedlings vary.
How to plant
- Buy a certified, grafted tree from a licensed nursery in your state.
- Plant after the last frost in spring, in a sunny, sheltered spot.
- Dig a hole about twice as wide as the root ball and set the tree so the top of the root ball sits slightly above the soil, never deeper.
- Backfill with the native soil and water well, keeping the root ball moist until roots grow out.
- Wear gloves; the branches carry sharp thorns.
Watering and feeding
Water young trees often enough to keep the root ball moist, then deeply and less often once established. Avoid soggy soil.
Feed with a citrus fertilizer with micronutrients during the growing season at the label rate, and avoid late season feeding, which pushes tender growth before winter.
Pruning and care through the year
- Prune lightly to shape the bush and remove crossing or dead branches.
- Remove any suckers from below the graft.
- Check new growth monthly from spring to fall for Asian citrus psyllid: tiny brown insects feeding tail up, white waxy nymph secretions and twisted new leaves. Report suspected HLB symptoms.
- Cover young trees on frost nights, or move potted trees under cover.
Harvesting
Pick fruit when it has fully colored for its variety and comes away with a gentle pull. Test one by cutting it open and squeezing: ripe pearls are plump and juicy. Fruit ripens over several weeks.
Cut the finger in half crosswise and squeeze out the pearls to use on seafood, salads, desserts and drinks.
Growing in pots
Finger limes grow well in a large pot, at least 16 inches (40 cm) wide, with a free draining citrus mix. Keep the pot in full sun, water when the top inch dries and bring it into a bright, frost free place for winter in cold regions.
Pests and diseases
Finger limes share the pests and diseases of other citrus.
Pests to watch for
- Asian citrus psyllid Tiny mottled brown insects on new growth, white waxy nymph secretions and twisted new leaves.
- Stink bugs Shield shaped bugs feeding on young fruit and shoots.
- Scale Small bumps on twigs with sticky honeydew.
Diseases to watch for
- Citrus greening HLB: blotchy, asymmetric yellow mottling on leaves and misshapen fruit. No cure; report it.
- Melanose Small, rough, raised brown specks on fruit and leaves in wet weather.
- Citrus canker Raised, corky spots with yellow halos on leaves and fruit, mainly in Florida.
Common questions
Can I buy a finger lime tree online?
Often not across state lines. Federal and state quarantines for HLB and the Asian citrus psyllid restrict moving citrus plants, so buy from a licensed nursery in your own state.
When is a finger lime ripe?
When it has fully colored for its variety and comes away easily. Cut one open: ripe pearls are plump and juicy.
Can finger limes grow outside in Florida?
In Central and South Florida, yes. In North Florida, plant in a sheltered spot or a large pot and protect it on freeze nights.
How do I use finger limes?
Cut the fruit in half crosswise and squeeze out the caviar-like pearls onto seafood, salads, desserts or drinks.
Do finger limes have thorns?
Yes, sharp ones. Wear gloves when pruning and picking.
Sources we checked: UC Riverside Givaudan Citrus Variety Collection: Australian finger lime; USDA APHIS: Citrus Greening and Asian Citrus Psyllid Quarantined Areas (updated 1 October 2026); UC IPM Pest Notes: Asian Citrus Psyllid and Huanglongbing Disease; UC IPM: Cultural Tips for Growing Citrus.
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