Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis (Buddha’s Hand)

From Asian citron to Buddha’s Hand

Buddha’s Hand is a cultivated finger-fruited form of citron. Citron itself has deep roots in Asia, while fingered forms have been cultivated for centuries in China, Japan, Indochina and India.

China has an especially long cultural association with Buddha’s Hand, where the unusual fruit has appeared in cultivation, art and symbolism for many centuries. Growers preserved the fingered shape through selection and propagation.

Growing Buddha’s Hand indoors

• Sun and warmth: Give Buddha’s Hand intense light and warm conditions while it is extending shoots or carrying fruit. Keep the crown and roots consistently warm in bright, frost-free conditions, especially when indoor temperatures drop.
• Humidity: Warm indoor rooms can become dry when heating is running. Maintain moderate humidity around the foliage and keep the plant away from direct radiator or heater airflow.
• Watering: Water when the surface has dried and the deeper mix is only lightly moist, then let all surplus drain. Large fruit and active foliage can use substantial water in warmth, while the roots still need air between waterings.
• Pot, roots and repotting: Use a fast-draining, open citrus mix and a container only modestly larger than the root system. Repot when the roots fill the pot or the mix has lost its open structure, and keep the trunk base and graft union above the mix.
• Feeding and fruit support: Use a complete citrus fertiliser while shoots, flowers or fruit are developing, following the label. Large fingered fruit can pull strongly on young branches, so support or thin the crop when stems begin to bend and prune long thorny shoots after growth has firmed up.

Buddha’s Hand stress and pest problems

• Leaves blacken or stems die back after cold exposure: Move Buddha’s Hand to a bright frost-free position, protect it from cold draughts and keep chilled potting mix from staying saturated. Wait until living tissue is clearly visible before cutting back damaged wood.
• Flowers or young fruit fall in large numbers: Heavy shedding can follow severe drought, a temperature shock or a failing root system. Check moisture below the surface, stabilise the plant and inspect the roots if the pot remains wet or smells sour.
• Leaves yellow while growth stalls: Root stress or salt buildup around the roots are common causes. Check drainage and root condition, then use the yellow-leaf guide to compare the pattern.
• Sticky leaves, cottony clusters or shell-like bumps develop: Inspect thorns, stems and leaf joints for mealybugs and scale. Separate Buddha’s Hand from neighbouring plants and remove any insects that are clearly visible. If control requires a treatment, use one labelled for the pest and the plant and repeat it only as the label specifies. The mealybug guide helps distinguish cottony colonies from harmless debris.

If the cause is still unclear, send us clear photos of the whole plant, the affected area and the potting mix so we can help you narrow it down.

Keep Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis (Buddha’s Hand) away from pets

• The fruit flesh is edible, while leaves, peel and other plant material can irritate cats and dogs.
• These parts contain essential oils and psoralens that may cause vomiting, stomach pain, unusual tiredness or skin irritation.
• Contact a veterinarian if a pet chews the plant or develops symptoms. Seek medical advice if a person becomes unwell after exposure.

Citrus medica: where the name comes from

Citrus is the classical Latin name used for citron and related citrus plants. Medica refers to ancient Media in Persia.

Carl Linnaeus established the genus Citrus in 1753 in Species Plantarum, page 782.

Carl Linnaeus first described Citrus medica in 1753 in Species Plantarum, page 782.