Desert Ice Lime Citrus

Grafted Desert Ice is an exciting new development from Western Australia, offering a significantly larger version of the classic Desert Lime with fruit that is five times bigger.

The Desert Lime, also called “Wild Lime” or “Desert Kumquat,” is a hardy, occasionally thorny shrub or small tree native to the inland deserts of Queensland, New South Wales, and South Australia. Known for its small, green, grape-sized fruits that deliver an intense citrus punch, it is a highly prized native fruit. The Desert Ice, however, offers an improved and larger version of this iconic lime, making it even more appealing for gardeners and chefs alike.

Traditionally used as an Aboriginal bush food, Desert Lime is packed with nutrients like vitamin C, lutein, folate, and vitamin E, offering numerous health benefits.

In the kitchen, Desert Lime is incredibly versatile, perfect for marmalades, sauces, pickles, chutneys, candied peel, or even as a refreshing addition to cocktails. Its tangy flavour is ideal for both sweet and savoury dishes. The fruits ripen quickly after the white, fragrant flowers bloom in spring, a testament to the Desert Lime's ability to adapt to harsh desert environments.

This fast-growing shrub thrives in poor soils and is drought-resistant, making it a great addition to low-maintenance gardens. Non-grafted Desert Limes are best suited to desert conditions, while grafted varieties like Desert Ice perform well in wetter or coastal climates with well-drained soils. For the best fruiting, mulch and fertilise lightly in late winter with a citrus-specific fertiliser.

Desert Lime typically reaches up to 7 metres, but can be pruned to a manageable 3 metres. It’s an excellent choice for hedging, screening, or even growing in large pots on a sunny veranda. With its drought tolerance and appeal to birds, bees, and insects, this plant brings both beauty and function to any garden.

Key features of Desert Ice (Desert Lime) include:

- Fruit: Larger green citrus fruits with intense flavour

- Soil preference: Well-drained, sandy soils

- Sunlight: Full sun to part shade

- Watering needs: Drought-tolerant once established

- Growth habit: Can grow up to 7m, prunable to 3m

- Climate suitability: Native desert regions; grafted varieties perform well in coastal and wetter climates

- Uses: Marmalades, sauces, pickles, chutneys, candied peel, cocktails, and seasoning for sweet or savoury dishes

Bring the taste of the Australian outback to your garden with the bigger, better Desert Ice. Order yours today and experience the wonders of this improved native citrus.

Keywords: Desert Ice, Desert Lime, Citrus glauca, wild lime, desert kumquat, native bush food, Australian gardens, drought-tolerant.