Buddha Hand Citrus Tree Live Plant – Grafted – 3 Gallon, 2-3 ft Tall

Overview

Bring the exotic beauty and unique fragrance of the buddha hand citrus tree to your garden or patio. This remarkable live plant, scientifically known as Citrus medica sarcodactylis, is a highly sought-after variety of citrus, famous for its finger-like fruit resembling a praying hand. Our offering is a carefully grafted buddha hand plant, ensuring robust growth, earlier fruiting, and disease resistance. Standing at a healthy 2-3 feet tall and rooted in a 3-gallon nursery pot, it’s perfectly sized for immediate integration into your landscape or as a stunning container specimen. The Buddha’s Hand fruit is not typically consumed for its pulp or juice, but rather for its zest and aromatic rind, making it a favorite among chefs and home cooks for culinary creations, perfumes, and decorative displays. This particular tree promises to be a conversation starter and a source of fragrant delight for years to come.

The allure of the buddha hand citrus tree extends beyond its striking appearance; it’s a symbol of happiness and longevity in many cultures. Growing your own allows you to enjoy fresh, aromatic fruit right from your backyard. Grafting ensures that you get a plant with desirable characteristics, often leading to quicker establishment and a more reliable yield compared to seed-grown trees. This 2-3 feet tall specimen is an excellent choice for both novice and experienced gardeners eager to explore the world of unique citrus varieties.

Key Benefits

The buddha hand citrus tree offers a multitude of benefits, from its ornamental value to its versatile fruit. This distinctive plant will not only enhance your garden’s aesthetic but also provide a unique ingredient for your kitchen and home.

• Exotic Ornamental Appeal: The unique finger-like fruit and glossy green foliage make it a stunning focal point in any garden or patio setting. It’s a true conversation starter and an excellent decorative piece.
• Aromatic Fragrance: Both the blossoms and the fruit emit a sweet, intense citrus fragrance that can perfume an entire area, making it ideal for planting near seating areas or windows.
• Culinary Versatility: While not typically juiced, the rind and zest of the Buddha’s Hand fruit are highly prized in gourmet cooking, baking, and for making candied citrus, infusions, and liqueurs. It adds a sophisticated, aromatic touch to dishes.
• Grafted for Performance: This grafted buddha hand plant ensures a stronger root system, better disease resistance, and often results in fruiting at a younger age compared to non-grafted trees.
• Container Growing Suitability: Its manageable size and growth habit make it an excellent candidate for growing in large pots or containers, especially in regions with colder winters where it can be moved indoors.
• Symbolic Significance: In many Asian cultures, the buddha’s hand fruit tree symbolizes happiness, good fortune, and longevity, making it a meaningful addition to any home.
• Relatively Low Maintenance: Once established, this citrus tree is fairly easy to care for, requiring consistent watering and occasional feeding to thrive.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your buddha hand citrus tree is rewarding and relatively straightforward, ensuring you enjoy its unique fruit and fragrance for many years. Proper care involves attention to sunlight, watering, soil, and temperature. This grafted buddha hand plant is accustomed to warm climates and appreciates consistent conditions.

Sunlight Requirements: Buddha Hand citrus trees thrive in full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. If growing indoors, place it near a south-facing window or supplement with a grow light. Insufficient light can lead to sparse foliage and reduced fruit production. Rotate container plants periodically to ensure even light exposure.

Watering Schedule & Soil Moisture: Water thoroughly when the top 1-2 inches of soil feel dry to the touch. Citrus trees prefer consistent moisture but do not tolerate soggy conditions, which can lead to root rot. Reduce watering slightly during cooler months. Ensure good drainage to prevent waterlogging. A drip irrigation system or regular manual checks will help maintain optimal soil moisture.

Soil Type & Drainage: Plant your buddha hand citrus tree in a well-draining, slightly acidic soil mix (pH 6.0-7.0). A good quality citrus potting mix is ideal for container plants. For in-ground planting, amend heavy clay soils with organic matter like compost or perlite to improve drainage. Good drainage is paramount for healthy root development.

Temperature Range & USDA Hardiness Zone: These trees are sensitive to cold. They are best suited for USDA Zones 9-11 for outdoor planting. In colder climates, they should be grown in containers and brought indoors when temperatures drop below 40°F (4°C). Protect from frost, as young trees are particularly vulnerable. Ideal temperatures range between 60-90°F (15-32°C).

Fertilization Schedule & Type: Feed your buddha’s hand fruit tree with a balanced citrus-specific fertilizer three to four times a year, following the product’s instructions. A slow-release granular fertilizer or a liquid feed can be used. Fertilize more frequently during active growth periods (spring and summer) and reduce in fall and winter. Look for fertilizers containing micronutrients like iron, zinc, and manganese.

Common Problems & Solutions: Watch out for common citrus pests like aphids, scale, and spider mites. Treat with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap. Yellowing leaves can indicate nutrient deficiencies (often iron or nitrogen) or improper watering; adjust fertilization and watering practices accordingly. Ensure good air circulation to prevent fungal diseases.

Size & Details

This buddha hand citrus tree is a grafted buddha hand plant, ensuring genetic stability and earlier fruiting. It arrives as a live plant in a 3-gallon nursery pot, providing a substantial root system for healthy establishment. The tree stands approximately 2-3 feet tall from the base of the pot, making it a significant presence upon arrival. Its growth rate is moderate, and with proper care, it will gradually increase in size, potentially reaching 8-10 feet tall in the ground, though it can be kept smaller in containers through pruning. Expect the first fruits to appear within 1-2 years under optimal conditions, with flowering typically occurring in spring and fruiting through fall and winter. This specimen is ready to bring the unique charm of Citrus medica sarcodactylis to your home.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this buddha hand citrus tree get? A: In optimal conditions planted in the ground, a Buddha Hand citrus tree can reach 8-10 feet tall. When grown in a container, its size can be managed with regular pruning, typically staying between 4-6 feet.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: This grafted buddha hand plant is shipped in a 3-gallon nursery pot. This size provides a good root ball for transplanting into a larger container or directly into your garden.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The buddha hand citrus tree can be grown outdoors in USDA Zones 9-11. In colder climates, it is best grown in a container and brought indoors during the colder months to protect it from frost.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This citrus tree requires at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day to thrive and produce fruit. If growing indoors, a bright, south-facing window or supplemental grow lights are essential.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? Is it good for beginners? A: While not as demanding as some plants, it does require consistent watering, ample sunlight, and regular feeding. With attention to these basic needs, it can be a rewarding plant for enthusiastic beginners interested in unique citrus.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? Is it shipped in soil? A: Your buddha hand citrus tree will arrive as a live, healthy plant, carefully packaged in its 3-gallon nursery pot with soil, ready for unpacking and placement. We ensure the plant is well-hydrated before shipping.
• Q: Can I use buddha’s hand fruit tree fruit in cooking? A: Absolutely! The Buddha’s Hand fruit is renowned for its aromatic zest and rind, which can be used in baking, making preserves, infusing spirits, or as a garnish. It’s less about the pulp and more about the fragrant peel.
• Q: How long until it blooms or produces fruit? A: As this is a grafted plant, it is likely to bloom and produce fruit sooner than a seedling. You can generally expect the first blooms and fruit within 1-2 years of planting, provided it receives proper care.
• Q: When is the best time to plant this tree? A: The best time to plant your buddha hand citrus tree is in the spring or early summer after the last threat of frost has passed, allowing it ample time to establish before cooler temperatures.
• Q: What’s the minimum temperature this plant can tolerate? A: The Buddha Hand citrus tree is quite sensitive to cold. It should be protected when temperatures consistently drop below 40°F (4°C) and brought indoors if temperatures are expected to freeze.