Finger Lime (Citrus australasica) in Australia: A Guide by State and City

'Finger lime citrus australasica' is one of the most-searched phrases around this fruit. According to Google Keyword Planner (Australia), it draws around 18,000 searches a month, far more than any common name. Most of those people are probably gardeners, cooks and the curious asking the same thing: what exactly is it, and where in Australia does it grow?

We are a skincare retailer and make a moisturiser featuring lime caviar, so read this with that in mind. This is general information, not medical advice.

The short answer

Citrus australasica, commonly the finger lime or caviar lime, is a native Australian citrus. It is one of six native citrus species, according to NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI). It is a thorny shrub or small tree, usually two to six metres tall, with slim, finger-shaped fruit up to about 12 cm long. Inside are juice vesicles that look like caviar. Some botanists and ingredient databases place it in the genus Microcitrus, so you may see it listed on a cosmetic label as Microcitrus australasica fruit extract.

Three Australian finger lime stories

These are composite characters written to illustrate how people meet the fruit. They are not customer reviews.

Lena, 38, Brisbane. She first tasted a finger lime on an oyster at a Sunday lunch, and the pearls popped on her tongue like tiny citrus bubbles. The next weekend she bought a grafted plant for her balcony and checked it every morning.

Greg, 61, Melbourne. A retired teacher, he planted a finger lime in a sheltered corner of his Epping garden. It took patience, as the fruit comes slowly, but he now gives jars of pearls to the neighbours every autumn.

Mei, 45, Perth. She found a nursery in Perth selling grafted plants and put one in a pot by the kitchen door. She says the best part is the first cut of the season, when she squeezes a fruit and the colours spill out.

Where it grows, state by state

• New South Wales. The fruit's wild home is the rainforest edge of northern NSW, within the Bundjalung language nation, where it is known as gulalung. DPI says most commercial plantings are in northern NSW, with some as far south as Sydney. A hinterland grower in northern NSW sells fresh, frozen and freeze-dried fruit online, and Sydney's central market has stocked it.
• Queensland. The border ranges of south-east Queensland are the other half of the native range. Fruit has been sold through Brisbane's central market, and growers around Brisbane and the Gold Coast sit close to the tree's natural conditions.
• Victoria. Growers in Melbourne's north, including Epping and Lara, grow finger limes and sell grafted trees, fresh fruit, freeze-dried powder and frozen products.
• Western Australia. Tucker Bush Nursery sells finger lime plants to Perth metro residents and through local retailers, including grafted plants that can fruit from year one.
• South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory. We did not find source information on commercial growing in these places. DPI says trees tolerate light frosts but do best in frost-free, sheltered sites, so gardeners in Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra should plan frost protection, and young plants in hot, dry inland areas need shelter from wind.

By city: where gardeners and shoppers start

• Sydney: market stalls and northern NSW growers' online shops.
• Brisbane and the Gold Coast: closest to the native range, with markets and nurseries.
• Melbourne: Victorian growers' shops and central market supply.
• Perth: local nurseries and specialist suppliers.
• Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra, Darwin: mostly online orders and plants in sheltered spots, with frost and tropical-heat considerations.

Colours and flavours

The skin can be green, yellow-green, pink, crimson, purple or almost black. The pulp has been recorded in green, yellow, red and pink, and DPI lists named cultivars such as 'Alstonville', 'Durhams Emerald', 'Judy's Everbearing' and 'Pink Ice'. Flavour descriptions run from limey and zesty to hints of grapefruit. See finger lime colours and varieties.

How it is used

• Food: mainly as a garnish for seafood, and in salads, drinks and desserts. Best raw, because heat spoils the texture.
• Preserves: marmalade, jam and cordial.
• Dried: dried peel is used as a spice.
• Garden: a feature tree for warm, sheltered spots. See how to grow a finger lime in your city.
• Cosmetics: appears in some products as an extract. See our guide to finger lime in skincare.

More on picking and storing in our guide to how finger limes are harvested and stored, and see where to buy finger limes.

A word on 'natural'

The TGA says it does not assess cosmetics unless they make therapeutic claims, and cosmetic ingredients, including natural ones, are regulated as industrial chemicals through AICIS. A native Australian fruit on a label tells you about origin, not about safety or effect.

From bush to jar

If you love the story of a native Australian fruit, you may enjoy our story of lime caviar, from bush to face cream.

When to see a doctor

• Stinging, swelling or a rash after handling the fruit or using a new product. Citrus peel oils can irritate some skin.
• Pregnant or planning to be: show the ingredient list of any product to your doctor or midwife.
• Any new, changing or bleeding mole or spot. Book a skin check.

Around Australia: skin and climate

For skin, sun is the common thread. Cancer Council Australia recommends SPF 50+ every day when the UV index is 3 or above, which covers Brisbane, Darwin, Perth, Adelaide and Sydney for much of the year. Humid Sydney, Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Darwin favour lighter textures, while dry Melbourne, Canberra and Hobart winters suit richer ones.

Frequently asked questions

What is Citrus australasica?
The botanical name of the finger lime, a native Australian citrus.

Is finger lime the same as caviar lime?
Yes, it is the same fruit.

Where does it grow wild?
Rainforest edges in northern NSW and south-east Queensland.

Where is finger lime grown commercially?
Mostly northern NSW and southern Queensland, with growers in Victoria too, according to DPI and grower sites.

Can I grow one in Melbourne, Perth or Adelaide?
Yes, in a sheltered, sunny spot. Perth nurseries sell plants, and frost protection helps in cooler places.

Can I grow one in Hobart or Canberra?
Trees tolerate light frosts, but a sheltered, frost-free spot is best. Ask a local nursery.

What colours does it come in?
Skins and pearls range from green and yellow to pink, red, purple and near-black.

Is it used in skincare?
Sometimes, as an extract. Evidence for skin benefits is still limited.

Is it the same as Microcitrus australasica?
Yes, an alternative botanical name used in some ingredient lists.

General information only, not medical advice. Sources: NSW Department of Primary Industries, Growing Australian native finger limes (Primefact 979, 2010); Tucker Bush Nursery, finger lime; The Salty Lime Co, the finger lime; Naturally Native, finger lime collection; 1 Million Women, native ingredients: finger lime; Fruitopia Nursery, finger lime care guide; TGA cosmetics guidance; Cancer Council Australia sun protection guidance; Google Keyword Planner (Australia) search volumes.

Meet the Lime Caviar Lift & Firm Moisturiser at Eastern Curlew, made in Australia.