Australian Finger Limes

treekiwi

Hey guys,
I recently discovered these cool fruit (Citrus australasica) when I was in Aussy recently. These seem to be really cool and have the smallest leaves of any citrus. The fruit is in a banana like shape and has pellet like interior pulp. VERY COOL!!! what i was wondering was if anyone knew the process to export seeds and if it was possible to send some to NZ (for a fee of course) Would make a good edition to my wierd and wonderful tree collection !!! any help would be appreciated

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Garry Brockley

I think you will need a permit to import seeds for planting due to biosecurity issues that are there for good reasons.
Seeds for sowing | MAF Biosecurity New Zealand

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Done it

You could have a look here: Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants but I don't think you could grow them there even if you got the seeds.

treekiwi

They grow them in Melborne sucessfully, perhaps a similar climate for growth? what soil type do they prefer?

Done it

Melbourne? They must have done something to them. They used to be sub-tropical, that's not Melb.

Just type finger limes in the ASGAP search box that'll tell you.

newguy18

can he buy the seeds mailorder?

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old schooler

Done it

I don't think they are available, but in that link under Nurseries & Seed Suppliers he might find some info.

But Galbee is right, you can't import seeds into NZ without a permit.

newguy18

Ugh,you like palms?

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old schooler

Done it

That was supposed to be funny!

But on second thought the way things are at the moment, maybe I do. Only calls I'm getting is for palms & stumps.

Bernard Keays

I’m not an expert on finger limes but they grow in Northern New South Wales and South East Queensland. They use to be called Microcitrus but were recently changed to Citrus.

There is a red form on Tamborine Mountain (my favorite). They grow well in protected well drained sites on humus enriched soils. They are a good edge species in rainforest and can be found naturally occurring in mountainous areas (such as Tamborine). So they should be able to survive in Melbourne given the right cultural conditions. Some nurseries produce grafted trees (definitely worth trying).

Try ‘Daleys Fruit Tree & Rainforest Plant Nursery’ in Kyogle in New South Wales. Daleys Nursery - Fruit, Nut and Rainforest trees

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Bernie

Done it

Tamborine Mt, nice place!

Daleys know their stuff, my brother lives just near them.

They can send to WA now I see, but I don't think NZ but he could ask them.

caldera

small world aye~

I'm genetically affiliated with that mob

we don't sell to NZ and with current custom procedures, probably never will ! (which is unfortunate)

yeh we sell grafted, cutting and seed grown finger limes (red, green, yellow, black/purple, lime ..different sizes and shape

there is a guy in Nimbin who exports fingerlime fruit all around the world... he makes 100bucks a kilo in some countries ...

I would only suggest growing finger lime from seed (or buying them from us) if for regeneration purposes.. as they can take a long time to reach maturity (and thus set fruit)

you could grow these in parts of tazzy or NZ, as we had a minus 7 degree frost lat year and our 3-5 year old finger lime bushes all survived and thrived, they obviously have an evolutionary history of colder-climate

they like nice rich soil, lots of humus/organic matter (as bernard said, they naturally occur in rainforest edges/understorey).. but will grow in sandysoils if you mulch and feed


awesome little shrub... birds love nesting in them and the fruit is something else altogether .... though not my favourite tree for mail-order, as the spikes are almost as bad as citrus rootstock





the native 'round' lime is also worth checking,
Australian Round Lime - Citrus australis

and i believe there is a super drought hardy 'desert lime'

treekiwi

That stinks!!!!

Is there any way to authenticate the seeds? guess il just have to stick to the boring old limes then.... Thanks for the info