Interesting Jenny. I did remember us all discussing them. I am sorry if I enabled anyone to get it. It is a lovely little bush - very pretty, but quite thorny! I wanted to discuss this bc I really did not like the flavor the last time and did this time. I think it will be a very nice accompaniment to many dishes and a little goes a long way. When they burst, the flavor is quite strong, but nice. It will go well with many things.

Jenny, I too fell prey to Laura's wicked tactics of luring us into thinking we "couldn't live without one". I recall in one thread she went on and on and on about how wonderful the little flowers smelled .lol I got mine last week from Logee's. It was very healthy and bigger than I thought it would be. 16" tall and already getting bushy. Laura I'm glad the second one was a lot better.

I like the shape of the baby ones from Logee's. They remind me of a rock cotoneaster - sortof sprawling over the pot and the flowers on yours were gorgeous (mine has not flowered yet). I have seen pics of the more mature ones and they can get taller and outright unruly. lol Would be interesting to see if you can sub less of the juice from it in recipes compared to other limes.

It is an Australian red lime. http://www.gondwananativelimes.com.au/australian_native_red_lime.html

Mine has some fruit on it and has not dropped any.

Yep Vladimir. That is an exact description of what mine looks like - inside and out. I really like it now that I did not taste a rotten one lol! Jenny and Angela...what can I say??? Lol! I feel a little guilty with my ravings now...;-). I do hope you guys like it as much as I do. I will post pics when I cut open the next one and use them in my recipe.

One more thing I will say regarding this little tree and fruit: undoubtedly, it is the most unique citrus I own. There is no way I’d find anything even remotely close to it in a grocery store. Even the look of the tree is different from other citrus...kind of neat!

I totally agree Laura it is very unique, I can't wait until it blooms. Slivers of that dark red rind sure would make some pretty marmalade.

Now that is a truly unique tree. Imagine having one stationed outside on the balcony or yard for the public to admire? I'm always looking at every house's yard to spot a fruit tree and when I see one, it's like finding a well hidden Easter egg! Can't wait to see a photo of your red lime Laura. Enable us all some more please!

I like the look of it (foliage) , too. And I'm glad to hear the taste report.I looked for them at the international grocery, but no luck so far.

Stan Mackenzie also has a finger lime listed...I've been tempted.

How big do these plants get?

Hibiscus, I have the green finger lime Stan sells. It was small when I got it and, although it has grown, is still pretty small. It has not flowered yet and I’ve had it at least 1.5 years. I don’t know how big the get, but think they are quite bushy - and thorny. Similar habit to the red one, but the red one is definitely prettier. I can post a pic of that one as well once it’s light out.

Angela - too many of us succumb to the enabling so we get back by enabling others! Hee hee.

Vladimir - thanks for confirming what you have. I am thinking it might not be long before they do try to get some red finger limes here in the U.S. somehow. Some of the Aussie posters have listed all the different varieties that are available and I expect or suppose some of the big citrus-focused ag Universities may have them for research/propagation. To get into commercial production for consumers would probably take time for retail nurseries.

hibiscus - I have researched a bunch of sites that show both types and they seem to try to keep them to 6ft as a dense thorny bush (in the ground). The larger potted nursery ones shown here in the U.S. (green finger lime) and at Australian retailers (all types of related ones) tend to be in the 2ft - 4ft range and depending on how wayward the branches get, could probably go to 5ft or more when mature in a large pot. If grafted, the rootstock would make some difference on growth rate.

Laura et. al, here is mine that I bought over the summer (planted in an 8" pot) and brought inside last week with some of my more tender tropicals (most of the rest of my citrus are still outside) -

It didn't grow that much since I got it although it had one tiny flush of leaves at the end of some branches in September (I got it mid-July and potted it in 5:1:1), but will see how it does this winter under the CFLs. As was recommended, I have only been fertilizing it by 1/2 and kept it "in the understory" of some of my other plants when outside (NW-facing location), so it wasn't in full blazing sun, and it seemed to like it like that.

Logee's has 13 red limes in stock. They come in 5" clay pots.

In case somebody needs more convincing, I found a nice recipe for finger lime ;)

http://www.myinvisiblecrown.com/2012/10/29/finger-lime-mojito-cheesecake-trifle/

Oh my...that looks good!!!! Here are pics of my trees. I’ve not cut the other lime yet and have found alternate dinner plans, so it will have to wait at least one more day...

Jenny, mine looked a lot like yours when I got it. The red lime seems to grow more quickly than the finger lime from Stan - rootstock perhaps?

Laura - those little limes on the ends are adorable. Crossing my fingers for how it does over the winter. It will be sharing the light with some mandarins - a Kishu and a Tango (the Tango is still outside).

That’s a nice setup Jenny. I am sure they will be happy!