Red Centre Australian Blood Lime

The Australian Blood Lime (Citrus australasica hybrid 'Red Centre') is a CSIRO-bred cross between the red finger lime and a mandarin-type citrus. Unlike its parent it produces small round to oval, blood-red fruit instead of long fingers, with a sharp lime flavour, on a grafted tree that grows to about 3m.

Why you'll love it

• Blood-red fruit. The small round to oval fruit has a deep red colour, unusual in any citrus and striking in a drink or on a plate.
• Real lime flavour. It tastes sharp and limey, so it works anywhere you would use a lime, from cordials to marinades.
• Bred for the garden. The hybrid takes the finger lime's flavour and colour, and combines it with the mandarin's more conventional habit.
• Grafted for strength. Grafted trees generally crop sooner than seedling citrus and are more reliable.
• Great in pots. It grows well in a large container, handy where the ground is poor.

Where it works best

Kitchen garden. A dependable fruit tree for beds close to the house. Space plants 3m apart if you are planting several.

Pots and patios. A pot of 50cm or more with citrus mix and a layer of mulch supports a healthy tree.

Feature position. The red fruit on glossy dark leaves suits a prominent spot by a path or a pergola.

Growing Australian Blood Lime in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun or bright light with some afternoon shelter. It does best in subtropical and warm temperate gardens. In cool regions grow it in a pot and protect it from frost.

Soil. Free-draining, organic, slightly acidic soil. Raise the bed where drainage is poor.

Water and feed. Keep the soil moist but not wet, and feed with citrus fertiliser in spring and summer. Mulch well, keeping it off the trunk.

Pruning. Light shaping after harvest and removal of dead or crossing wood is enough. Watch for citrus leaf miner and, where fruit fly is active, net the tree or bag the fruit.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell the Australian Blood Lime in 400mm pots and as 100 litre bags, both advanced stock grown on for a quick start, and grafted rather than seedling. Plant promptly, water it in deeply and allow a season to settle. Our growers do not hold every size all year, so a size can show as on backorder at times. An order for a backorder size is confirmed with you before anything ships.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse citrus trees
• Lime tree care guide
• More fruit trees

Common questions

Is it a finger lime?

It is a hybrid of the red finger lime, so the fruit is small, round to oval and blood red, not long and slender.

How does it taste?

Sharp and limey, much like a lime but with its own colour and aroma.

Is it thorny?

Expect some thorns from its finger lime parent, so take care when pruning and picking.