PlantFiles: Fingered Citron, Buddha's Hand
Citrus medica var. sarcodactylus

I was surprised to see this guy survive the snow we had last week. A few leaves got a little brown, but otherwise mine still looks ok!!

It looks beautiful, I have just gotten ahold of a young plant about a foot tall. It is outside, hopefully it will like it there.

Buddha's hand does not normally produce seed. If by chance you find one I would not think it would come true to type.

I have one of these citrons in a pot, after repotting it has just started to settle down, and throw out a flush of leaves. The picture I have posted is of a juvenile fruit.

The fruit of this plant is reportedly highly prized in Asian cultures for its deliciously sweet and citrussy scent, and for its beauty.

This plant grows well in New Zealand.

That despite the fact that the plant I had was the most bug-prone citrus ever. It has since kicked the bucket.

Why my experience was positive: the smell is heavenly, even better than that of a Key lime. Prune a branch and it perfumes the air. I grew it in a large pot, as I do Key limes, and I intended to try to make Sukkade out of the fruit (candied citron) and perhaps try the leaves in soups or stews as the Thais use lime leaves.

Should add: reason I grew it in a pot--like Key lime, this one is sensitive to cold temperatures. I live in Zone 9. Can't grow Key limes in the open ground here; one year with a freeze and blooey! Should also add: acid citrus tends to bloom and fruit off and on throughout the year. This is true of Key limes and calamondins; I think it may be true of C. medica also.

We bought three plants for our garden E of San Diego, one little tree died and one is struggling - snail attacks seem to be the problem - California snails easily destroy the bark of the trunk. Still, our third plant is a success, plenty of beautiful blooms and absolutely stunning fruit - well worth all the care and waiting.

This plant's a natural crowd pleaser. People spot the fruit from as far away as they can see it and gravitate to it to get a better look. The one at Marie Selby Botanical Garden always seems to have fruit and always seems to have a crown of tourists taking pictures of it. It may be the most photographed plant in the Selby collection.

I really like the way this fruit looks,like an odd shaped lemon. The fruit is mostly rind, but is candied in Asian cuisine.