Red Finger Lime

Red Finger Lime is a red-pulp form of Australian finger lime, an edible native citrus with slender, finger-shaped fruit and beadlike pulp. Red forms may have red, purple, or nearly black skin and pink-to-red flesh, while fruit color and tree form vary across the species. ## Fruit and form Finger lime is a thorny shrub or small tree; wild plants can reach about 6 m. Its small white flowers develop into distinctive cylindrical fruits with juicy, pearl-like segments. In Australia, ripe fruit is reported in May and June, though local timing varies by climate. [PlantNET’s NSW flora account](https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?constat=&dist=&lvl=sp&name=Citrus~australasica&page=nswfl&showsyn=) notes the red-fleshed form and describes fruit and flower traits. ## Growing conditions Choose full sun or dappled light and rich, well-drained soil. Mulch to help conserve soil moisture in summer. The species is native to subtropical rainforest areas of southeastern Queensland and northern New South Wales and can grow across a range of soil types. The [NSW finger-lime growing guide](https://www.dpird.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/horticulture/citrus/content/manuals-guides/finger-limes) describes its natural habitat, while the [Sunshine Coast Botanic Garden profile](https://botanic-garden.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/about-us/learn/trees/finger-lime-citrus-australasica) recommends dappled light or full sun and rich, well-drained soil. ## Maintenance Branches are thorny, so take care when harvesting or pruning. Prune as needed to keep the plant at a manageable size, and mulch during summer to reduce moisture loss.