Citrus medica 'Mano Di Buddha'

Origin
The Citrus medica 'Mano Di Buddha', also known as the Buddha's hand lemon, originally hails from the northeastern part of India. This plant is part of the Rutaceae family and over time, it has spread throughout the countries of the Far East. Its distinct aesthetics paved the way to European botanical gardens in the 17th century.

Characteristics
This special lemon tree derives its name from the unique shape of its fruits, which resemble the fingers of a hand. The fruits have a strong lemon scent and contain no juice or pulp. They are mostly used for their peel, which is used for perfumes, decoration and flavour in many cultures. The leaves of the plant are dark green and bear the typical scent familiar in many citrus plants.

Care
The Citrus medica 'Mano Di Buddha' requires a large amount of sun and thrives best in full sun or partial shade. Watering is only required when the soil dries out at some depth as they prefer well-drained soil. Although tolerant to temperatures as low as 5°C, the plant performs best with temperatures not lower than 13°C. The plants are not truly resistant to frost, thus they need to be brought indoors or covered when the temperature is expected to drop.