Australian Desert Lime
A very interesting and unique citrus native to Australia, when it is not in flower or fruit you might not even realize it is a citrus tree due to its grey green elongated foliage that doesn’t closely resemble most citrus trees we are used to. The Australian Desert Lime is also uniquely drought tolerant and can shed its leaves in times of prolonged drought and survive by photosynthesizing with its green bark. A valuable citrus for plant breeders looking to cross it with other citrus, but also a highly valued bush food that is harvested and used to make juices or marmalades.
Click here to view our Citrus Growing Guide.
Growing Info:
Latin Name: Eremocitrus glauca, syn. Citrus glauca
Site and Soil: In spring, summer and fall, keep your potted Citrus in a location with 1/2 day to full sun. In the winter, place your plant in a well-lit room. Potting soil should be coarse, acidic, and well-drained.
Rootstock Description: US-942
Pollination Requirements: Self-fertile. You can help it set fruit by taking a small brush and moving pollen from flower to flower.
Hardiness: Hardy to about 25-30° F. We recommend bringing into a well-lit and protected location in early fall before frost.
Bearing Age: 1-2 years after planting
Size at Maturity: 4-10 ft.
Taste: Sweet-tart and lime-like
Fruit Skin: Green
Fruit Flesh: Green
Bloom Time: Late winter to spring
Ripening Time: Late fall into winter
Yield: 50+ fruit
Care: Fertilize with citrus mix 3-4 times per year with typical applications in late winter (Jan-Feb), late spring (May-June) and early fall (Sept-Oct).
Pests & Diseases: While outside, Citrus plants will likely not be bothered by insect pests. Be on the lookout for slugs. Indoors, Citrus can have mites and/or aphids. Watch carefully for any problems and treat with an insecticidal soap or wash them off. We have not seen any disease problems on our Citrus plants.
USDA Zone: 9b, possibly colder?