Finger lime 'Pink Pearl'

Microcitrus australasica, commonly called "caviar lime," is a thorny shrub of the Rutaceae family found in plains, in the undergrowth of the humid forests of eastern Australia.

The fruits are cylindrical, 4 to 8 cm long. The skin of the ripe fruits can be various colors: green, yellow, orange, red, purple, brown, black, but they all come from the same species. It contains small vesicles, resembling caviar pearls, hence its name, which naturally detach from each other releasing their acidity when chewed.

Instructions

Leave the plant outside between May and October but bring it indoors between October and the end of April, until the spring frosts are over. Place it in a warm spot on your property protected from the wind and put it in full sun. Repot every 2 years as needed depending on growth and add fertilizer of your choice as needed. It can easily withstand a semi-dormant winter period in a cool place between 7° and 10°C... e.g., a semi-heated garage. Finally... Remember to acclimate your plant to the sun in spring by not putting it directly in full sun for the first few days but gradually increasing exposure, otherwise the leaves will burn in the sun within a few days.