Here in SE QLD, we are fortunate enough to have two of our very own native Citrus. First up is the Round Lime / Dooja – Citrus australis, a bushy small tree in the garden at 4-8 metres in height.
The fruit are a decent size, at up to 7cm across, with a pleasant lime flavour but relatively dry and great for marmalades and providing a lime favour in cooking.
Round Limes grow naturally on the Blackall Range and were often kept as paddock trees to provide fruit to early European settlers. Their growth rate is moderate (similar to other Citrus) and they can take on a nice bushy form and although very spiky when young tend to lose this as they mature.
Next up is the Finger Lime Citrus australasica, these aren’t native to the Sunshine Coast, naturally occurring further south from Beenleigh to Ballina.
However, Finger Lime is very well known as a high-profile plant due to its popularity in the growing bushfood industry. A much smaller tree naturally, growing to only a few metres in the garden, especially if grafted onto a rootstock or cutting grown.
They are open in form compared to other citrus with a small leaf and tend to retain their prickly nature throughout their life. The distinctive finger shaped fruit can grow up to 8cm long and come in a variety of colours including greens, yellows, reds and black. The flesh again isn’t overly juicy but can be squeezed out of the skin as separate little juicy balls – like lime caviar, great in drinks, salads, desserts.
The leaves of both these native limes are food sources for several butterflies including the Dainty Swallowtail, Capaneus Swallowtail, Orchard Swallowtail and Ambrax Swallowtail – this is a good thing, they are all beautiful butterflies and its good to share! The spiky growth on these small trees also makes them a great refuge for smaller birds and a safe spot for their nests.
Add some native zest to your garden with one or both of these native limes, beautiful, abundant and great habitat plants that they are.
