Plant ID card |
|
|---|---|
Botanical name |
Citrus medica 'Digitata', Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis. |
Common name |
Citrus medica 'Digitata', Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis. |
Family |
Rutaceae. |
Origin |
Asia. |
Dimensions |
Up to 3 m in height. |
Foliage |
The foliage is evergreen, with large, shiny, light green leaves. |
Bloom |
The white flowers tinged with purple appear from March to October. They are very fragrant, and have the particularity of being self-fertile. |
Fruiting |
At the end of October, the flowers give way to sectioned fruits, the base of which divides into several fingers with pointed ends. They are bright yellow in color and are very fragrant. They take about 3 months to mature. |
Exposure |
Sun. |
Ground |
Rich, fresh, well drained. |
Rusticity |
+ 5°C, not hardy. |
Used in Asia as an offering and to perfume homes, the hand of Buddha is known for its original shape and its powerful perfume.
But it is also a rare and delicious citrus fruit, which can be used in many recipes!
Lemon tree, citron tree or hand of Buddha: what are the differences?
If the names Buddha's Hand or Buddha's Hand Citrus Tree coexist, it is because this citrus fruit is in reality
a variety of citron.
Indeed,
Citrus medica
is the botanical name of the citron tree, which is divided into different varieties such as the Corsican citron (
Citrus Medica 'Corsica
) or the
'Diamante'
variety with smoother bark.
The citron tree belonging to the genus citrus, which includes all citrus fruits, it is not uncommon to see the hand of Buddha being qualified as a lemon tree, in the manner of the Yuzu lemon (
Citrus junos
) or the caviar lemon tree (
Citrus australasica
) which are yet very different from the lemons we know.
Also read: 12 aesthetic and tasty citrus fruits to grow indoors or outdoors!
Where do Buddha's hands grow?
Buddha's hand flourishes under a non-burning sun.
Copyright (c) 2021 nnattalli/Shutterstock.
No use without permission.
Buddha's hand is native to southern China and northeast India, regions with a temperate climate that experience very little frost.
To flower and bear fruit in our latitudes, it can only be cultivated in open ground on the shores of the Mediterranean.
Soil:
Citrus medica 'Digitata'
appreciates rich, fresh and well-drained soil.
It prefers neutral to acidic soils and does not tolerate limestone well;
Exhibition:
Buddha's hand blossoms under a non-burning sun.
It is sensitive to drought and strong winds.
Planting tips:
plant your citron tree in a mixture of garden soil and citrus potting soil, taking care to place a draining layer at the bottom of the pot or planting hole.
Also read: The leaves of my lemon tree are turning yellow: what should I do?
How to maintain a Buddha’s Hand lemon tree?
In most areas, Buddha's Hand should be overwintered from October to protect it from the cold, Copyright (c) 2016 Gardens by Design/Shutterstock.
No use without permission.
Quite delicate,
Citrus medica var.
sarcodactylis
requires regular maintenance to flourish:
Watering:
water your Buddha hand once or twice a week or as soon as the substrate seems dry, to maintain permanently fresh soil;
Pruning:
Pruning
Citrus Medica 'Digitata'
is not essential, but can help it maintain a nice shape;
Wintering:
in most regions, the Buddha's hand must be wintered from October to protect it from the cold, in a bright, unheated location (greenhouse or veranda);
Diseases:
not very susceptible to diseases, the Buddha's hand lemon tree can be attacked by red spiders and mealybugs, especially during wintering.
How is Buddha's hand eaten?
Containing very little pulp and producing very little juice,
Citrus Medica 'Digitata'
is especially appreciated for its zest, which can be used in sweet, savory recipes, or even liqueurs.
Whole, it can
be candied
and has many uses in baking.
What does Buddha's hand taste like?
Buddha's hand can be candied and have many uses in baking.
Copyright (c) 2021 EQRoy/Shutterstock.
No use without permission.
Like citron, Buddha's hand has a fairly sweet, not very acidic flavor, which can evoke a mixture of orange and lemon.
It is a very popular citrus fruit and difficult to find, with prices around €40 per kilo!