Author Topic: Clausena lansium, also known as a wampee (Read 10431 times)

edself65 · « **on:** May 09, 2012, 06:23:26 PM »

Went on a Central Florida field trip today with another Central Fl gardener Adam. We got to try some Wampee fruit. It wasn't at its peak yet. In the photos you will see the fruit green, then yellow and finally brown. I have found that they are best when they are fully brown starting to get a slight pink glow to them. Once they are at peak ripeness they will have a nice lychee-grapefruit flavor. Today since they were mostly under ripe they had more of a grapefruit flavor. I think it is a plant that deserves a place in most back yard collections.

Thanks,

Ed

fruitlovers · « **Reply #1 on:** May 09, 2012, 06:49:39 PM »

Thanks for all the photos. I agree it's a very nice fruit. Really deserves more attention, especially from breeders to select improved varieties. Wampee is also a very nice tree. Only down side here is that it is susceptible corky bark disease. Doesn't kill it but probably reduces production.

FlyingFoxFruits · « **Reply #2 on:** May 09, 2012, 07:05:29 PM »

wasn't it mentioned in fairchilds book, this is one of the finest fruits of Siam?

i was eating them slightly under ripe today, and they had a unique flavor, I thought tasted like lychee grapefruit exactly.

the tree is tough as nails! it seems to be the last man standing after cold events and neglectful owners.

it must be quite Medicinal. I'm sure julia Morton would blow this post up!

the hunt is on for the best wampee! I think it has huge potential as a container crop (airlayered or grafted on dwarf rootstock)

we still need to sample some fruits around town Ed! I know of a few more trees

edself65 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 09, 2012, 07:26:50 PM »

Thanks Oscar!

Yeah I Adam I agree we need to sample some more! We only want to graft the best ones!

Ed

edself65 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 09, 2012, 09:27:30 PM »

I hear that someone in South Florida as a seedless Wampee. Any of you South Florida growers ever tried it or seen the tree?

Thanks,

Ed

bsbullie · « **Reply #5 on:** May 09, 2012, 09:30:50 PM »

I had some wampee a couple of weeks ago at Excalibur that had a definite tart orange flavor...different cultivars ?

edself65 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 09, 2012, 09:34:44 PM »

These are seedlings not sure if the one you tried was a seedling or selected variety. I'm sure some are way better than others because I have heard that some are really tart. I am only interested in propagating sweet ones. So I would be curious if Excalibur has a seedling or grafted one and if grafted do they sell grafted ones?

Also the ones we ate today were under ripe so they were a little on the tart side. When they were fully ripe last year I don't recall them being tart.
Thanks,

Ed

bsbullie · « **Reply #7 on:** May 09, 2012, 09:37:15 PM »

Quote from: edself65 on May 09, 2012, 09:34:44 PM

These are seedlings not sure if the one you tried was a seedling or selected variety. I'm sure some are way better than others because I have heard that some are really tart. I am only interested in propagating sweet ones. So I would be curious if Excalibur has a seedling or grafted one and if grafted do they sell grafted ones?

Thanks,

Ed

I believe it is grafted. I know they don't propagate it (the citrus thing) but I will check if they have any grafted trees for sale.

edself65 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 09, 2012, 09:38:42 PM »

Ok Thanks! Let me know!

Ed

Quote from: bsbullie on May 09, 2012, 09:37:15 PM

Quote from: edself65 on May 09, 2012, 09:34:44 PM
These are seedlings not sure if the one you tried was a seedling or selected variety. I'm sure some are way better than others because I have heard that some are really tart. I am only interested in propagating sweet ones. So I would be curious if Excalibur has a seedling or grafted one and if grafted do they sell grafted ones?

Thanks,

Ed
I believe it is grafted. I know they don't propagate it (the citrus thing) but I will check if they have any grafted trees for sale.

fruitlovers · « **Reply #9 on:** May 09, 2012, 09:47:13 PM »

Quote from: edself65 on May 09, 2012, 09:27:30 PM

I hear that someone in South Florida as a seedless Wampee. Any of you South Florida growers ever tried it or seen the tree?

Thanks,

Ed

I've seen seedless wampee here.

edself65 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 09, 2012, 09:59:06 PM »

I wonder how the flavor compares with the seeded versus seedless?

Ed

fruitlovers · « **Reply #11 on:** May 09, 2012, 10:08:03 PM »

Quote from: edself65 on May 09, 2012, 09:59:06 PM

I wonder how the flavor compares with the seeded versus seedless?

Ed

As i recall (faint memory) the taste of seedless was just as good as the seeded.

FlyingFoxFruits · « **Reply #12 on:** May 09, 2012, 10:10:06 PM »

I ate some wampee that were left over from today, and they had a much better taste.

I recall Whitman saying this had to be dead ripe...some other fruits are like this..like maprang.

If u eat your first wampee too early or too late, you'll not want t try another. If you eat one and even moderately enjoy it, you'll want another and soon...you are going to be a wampee addict.

They have a unique aroma, that is reminiscent of the smell of the leaves being crushed, but only by 1/100th of the pungency or potency.

The aroma fades as soon as you can sense it, and you are left with a deliciously sweet lychee, grape taste, with some grapefruit hints.

Its one of the easiest and best tasting fruits we can grown in FL.

Central Floridave · « **Reply #13 on:** May 09, 2012, 10:17:37 PM »

Thanks for the photos and info. I have a tree that is around 6 feet tall and not even as healthy looking as the photos. It also has never flowered.

Pine Island Nursery is selling a 'chicken tongue' wampee and Eric was raving about it at the Brevard Rare fruit sale last month. I don't have any more info than that.

My wampee has grown while being severly neglected...Hey, maybe that is why it has never flourished or flowered! I planted it around ten years ago. Since I've planted a couple tangerines nearby so maybe it can suck some nutrients from them as I fertilize.

bsbullie · « **Reply #14 on:** May 09, 2012, 10:22:01 PM »

Quote from: ASaffron on May 09, 2012, 10:10:06 PM

I ate some wampee that were left over from today, and they had a much better taste.

I recall Whitman saying this had to be dead ripe...some other fruits are like this..like maprang.

If u eat your first wampee too early or too late, you'll not want t try another. If you eat one and even moderately enjoy it, you'll want another and soon...you are going to be a wampee addict.

They have a unique aroma, that is reminiscent of the smell of the leaves being crushed, but only by 1/100th of the pungency or potency.

The aroma fades as soon as you can sense it, and you are left with a deliciously sweet lychee, grape taste, with some grapefruit hints.

Its one of the easiest and best tasting fruits we can grown in FL.

so I was eating them at the yellow stage (color-wise). Should they stay on the tree till they darken in color or will they improve off the tree if picked yellow ?

edself65 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 09, 2012, 10:30:31 PM »

I found them to be tart at the yellow stage. I prefer them after they turn brown, have a slight pink glow and slightly soft at harvest. I have never kept any around after harvest to see if they improve. Different people may prefer different levels of tartness. This may explain the difference in opinions on the taste of this fruit based on harvesting at different stages.

Thanks,

Ed

FlyingFoxFruits · « **Reply #16 on:** May 09, 2012, 11:37:45 PM »

bsbullii

this one is like the Jabo, u and me' eat them too early.

wait until these are good and ripe. it may take eating a good 5 or more to figure out the perfect stage of ripeness

fruitlovers · « **Reply #17 on:** May 10, 2012, 01:30:55 AM »

Quote from: ASaffron on May 09, 2012, 11:37:45 PM

bsbullii

this one is like the Jabo, u and me' eat them too early.

wait until these are good and ripe. it may take eating a good 5 or more to figure out the perfect stage of ripeness

Some wampis are plain tart no matter what stage they're at. Some wampi trees are just junk, others quite heavenly. Fruitlover's commandment: Go forth and multipy those heavenly ones!

edself65 · « **Reply #18 on:** May 10, 2012, 06:22:38 AM »

Central Floridave did you get one of the chicken tongue wampee? You should try applying an organic mulch to your Wampee to encourage some growth and flowers.

Thanks,

Ed

Quote from: Central Floridave on May 09, 2012, 10:17:37 PM

Thanks for the photos and info. I have a tree that is around 6 feet tall and not even as healthy looking as the photos. It also has never flowered.

Pine Island Nursery is selling a 'chicken tongue' wampee and Eric was raving about it at the Brevard Rare fruit sale last month. I don't have any more info than that.

My wampee has grown while being severly neglected...Hey, maybe that is why it has never flourished or flowered! I planted it around ten years ago. Since I've planted a couple tangerines nearby so maybe it can suck some nutrients from them as I fertilize.

Mike T · « **Reply #19 on:** May 10, 2012, 08:55:11 AM »

Wampees are reasonably popular in some parts of eastern australia.Guy Sam and Yeem Pay are the 2 most popular cultivars and they are pretty good.I am yet to see any with chicken tongues.

NewGen · « **Reply #20 on:** May 10, 2012, 12:18:51 PM »

How hardy is this tree? Thanks,

edself65 · « **Reply #21 on:** May 10, 2012, 12:30:15 PM »

Very hardy here in the Central Florida area! I have never seen or heard of very little damage in the low 20's F.

Ed

Ethan · « **Reply #22 on:** May 10, 2012, 01:15:25 PM »

This is a citrus relative so PLEASE CA residents, dont order it in from Plantogram or other FL. sources, YOU could be responsible for destroying CA citrus industry! There are already clean wampee in CA, one source is Mimosa LA, they have trees that have past inspection. That being said, these are beautiful trees that seem to do well in CA, hopefully before to long I can tell you about the fruit.

-Ethan

edself65 · « **Reply #23 on:** May 10, 2012, 01:18:15 PM »

Ethan I would hope a good nursey would know the rules and wouldn't ship the plant to CA or vice versa.

Ed

bsbullie · « **Reply #24 on:** May 10, 2012, 01:46:32 PM »

Quote from: Ethan on May 10, 2012, 01:15:25 PM

This is a citrus relative so PLEASE CA residents, dont order it in from Plantogram or other FL. sources, YOU could be responsible for destroying CA citrus industry! There are already clean wampee in CA, one source is Mimosa LA, they have trees that have past inspection. That being said, these are beautiful trees that seem to do well in CA, hopefully before to long I can tell you about the fruit.

-Ethan

And vice versa with shipping plants or scions/bud wood into Florida. Same applies to the Curry Leaf.

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Author Topic: Clausena lansium, also known as a wampee (Read 10431 times)