The Tropical Fruit Forum

I haven’t participated much here on the Forum for a while. As other Forum members can attest to, it’s quite difficult to take care of your plant collection when you often have to be away from your plant collection, which has been my situation for most of the year. My plants have been ignored far more that I would like (and they would like, as I lost some of the finicky ones). So, I’m selling off some of my plant collection, starting with the ones that are relatively small and easy to ship. Most of these are relatively recent introductions to the US and generally hard to find. These plants have been grown entirely organically (no Osmocote, unlike some of my other plants). They could also be considered fairly robust and established, since they’ve withstood a degree of neglect for several months. Most of these plants are root-bound and need to be up-potted, which you should probably do once they become acclimated to your growing area. They spent the winter indoors under grow lights and this summer have been outdoors in a mostly shaded area. They should be introduced to full sun conditions very gradually to prevent any leaf burn or other damage, particularly to any new growth.

These plants will be shipped using USPS Priority Mail with the shipping costs based on the size, weight, number of plants ordered, and buyer location. I will do what I can to save you money on shipping costs by making these plants as compact as possible for shipping without damaging them. They will not be shipped bare root; they will be shipped in their container with potting soil, as pictured (unless otherwise stated). I do not ship internationally. Buyers in California, Arizona, and Hawaii purchase plants at your own risk; I am not responsible if they are confiscated. I prefer shipping plants on Mondays to prevent them sitting in USPS facilities over the weekend.

I accurately describe and securely pack all my plants, as can be attested to by the various Forum members who have bought from me in the past.

Payment through PayPal.

Feel free to contact me with any questions you might have.

Scientific Name (Common Name) – Number of Seedlings Available – Seedling Size (Pot Height Not Included) – Seedling Age – Price Per Plant
Also included is where I purchased the seeds.


Diospyros inconstans (Marmelinho) – 1 – 15” tall – over 1 year – $35
Purchased from Bellamy Trees.


Eugenia caipora (Spicy Loquat) – 1 – 10” tall – over 1 year – $30
Purchased from Hapa Joe.


Eugenia monosperma (Cambucα-preto) – 1 – 7” tall – over 1 year – $35 SOLD
Purchased from a Tropical Fruit Forum member.


“Fake” Eugenia patrisii – 1 – 12” tall – over 2 years – $25 SOLD
Purchased from an eBay seller.
I was not scammed by an unscrupulous eBay seller. This plant was actually sold as a “Fake” Eugenia patrisii by the grower, who I think might also be a Forum member. There are many unknown Eugenia specimens that were originally called Eugenia patrisii, either through mistaken identification or deliberate scamming. This still appears to be a Eugenia of some sort and is starting to form a multi-trunk growth habit, so it should be a nice species of…  something.


Mammea americana (Mammee apple) – 1 – 24" tall – over 1 year – $55 SOLD
Purchased from a Tropical Fruit Forum member.


Myrciaria floribunda (Rumberry/Guavaberry) – 1 – 5" tall – over 2 years – $15 SOLD
Purchased from a Tropical Fruit Forum member.


Plinia oblongata (Sour Jaboticaba/Jaboticaba Azeda) – 1 – 20” tall – 5 years – $40 SOLD
Purchased from a Tropical Fruit Forum member.
Either a runt or a natural dwarf; it has always been healthy but never grown much. I have one of a similar age, cared for similarly, that is close to 5’ tall. Still, a well-established plant for the price of a young seedling. Includes a handmade, heavy-duty aluminum label.


Pouteria pachycalyx (Bapeba) – 1 – 7” tall – over 1 year – $30
Purchased from Bellamy Trees.
Critically endangered species which should be grown more widely to guard against its limited habitat being destroyed.


Pouteria procera (Macarandiba) – 1 – 21” tall – over 1 year – $40
Purchased from Bellamy Trees.


Psidium longipetiolatum (Mountain Cherry Guava/Araca Vermelho) – 1 – 32" tall – over 3 years – $40 SOLD
Purchased from a Tropical Fruit Forum member.


Sarcaulus brasiliensis – 1 – 11” tall – over 1 year – $35
Purchased from a Tropical Fruit Forum member.


Talisia esculenta (Pitomba/Olho-de-boi) – 1 – 6” tall – over 1 year – $20 SOLD
Purchased from Hapa Joe.
This plant is finicky and does not handle neglect well. It died back, but after it came back, I up-potted it and gave it some care the past couple of months.


Vitex cymosa (Taruma-do-Igapo/Taruma-do-alagado/Jaramantaia/Azeitona do mato/Tarumγ do Brejo) – 1 – 26” tall – over 1 year – $50
Purchased from Bellamy Trees.


Ziziphus joazeiro (Jua) – 1 – 24” tall – over 4 years – $100 SOLD
Purchased from Trade Winds Fruit.
Clay pot not included. A very rare and difficult to grow Caatinga species that is demanding with its water and soil requirements, though this individual plant may not be quite as much as others (the other Jua that I had of the same size and age died with the same level of care the past few months).

There seems to be a good deal of interest in Psidium striatulum on the Forum right now, which is great because I think it is a fruit more people should grow, as I am. Since my Psidium striatulums fruited within the past few weeks, I have seeds available to fellow Forum members.

The price is $7.00 for 20 seeds. Free shipping for orders in the United States. No international shipping as I do not have the time to deal with onerous customs paperwork.

20 seeds should more than guarantee that you get multiple healthy plants.

I am not interested in trades, since I already have too many plants.

I do not have an indefinite number of seeds, but enough for several people to order.

You can see photographs of my plants' fruits on the Psidium striatulum thread: https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=21523.msg504823#msg504823

Weeding is not just for plants, it is also for libraries, and I am weeding out a few extra books from my fruit growing library.

USPS Media Mail shipping is included in the price for these books. I will consider shipping them internationally if there is no interest among any American buyers with the international shipping cost to be covered by the buyer. A couple of these books are of a reasonable weight and will not cost an exorbitant amount to ship internationally, but The Encyclopedia of Fruit & Nuts is extremely heavy and shipping from the United States overseas would likely be prohibitively expensive. Its shipping is expensive enough within the United States.

I only accept PayPal.

These books will be securely packed and promptly shipped once payment is received with a tracking number provided after they are shipped.

I only have one copy of each of these books, so it is first come, first served.





The Encyclopedia of Fruit & Nuts was edited by Jules Janick and Robert E. Paull and published in 2008 by CABI (Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International). It is a hardcover, no dust jacket as issued, that measures 9x11.25 in. (226x284 mm.) with xviii+954 pages plus 20 pages of plates. The ISBN-13 number is 9780851996387. The text is in English, and it is a text-heavy book, illustrated by botanical line drawings and a color plate section of photographs. For whatever reason, CABI did not give this book a table of contents, but my photographs of various pages should give you an idea of the book's contents and how they are arranged.

Book description from the rear cover: “This major reference work provides comprehensive coverage of botanical and horticultural information on temperate, subtropical and tropical fruits and nuts of economic significance. Coverage is also given to palms, cacti and common fruit often thought of as vegetable crops. Containing almost 300 entries, topics covered include history and origins, ecology, breeding and genetics, distribution, uses and nutritional composition. Arranged alphabetically by family and species, each entry is followed by a selected bibliography to aid further reading on the topic. Entries are illustrated with figures, tables and graphs as well as colour photographs accompanying the major fruit crops. Drawing on the expertise of over 100 international specialists, this encyclopedia will be an invaluable and informative reference source for students and researchers in horticulture, pomology, botany and plant ecology.”

Condition: This book is in overall good condition. The hardcover boards have some corner bumping, particularly at the base of the spine, which has caused creasing and small surface tears, as well as there being a 1.25 in. (30 mm) long surface cut on the edge of the spine and rear cover, but the boards have no stains or other major damage. The binding is strong and intact. The interior is clean and unmarked with no writing, highlighting, or underlining and has no tears, dog-eared pages, stains, mold, or other major damage. The page edges have no remainder mark, foxing, stains, or any major damage.

The price for this book is $150 $135. SOLD

My opinion: An excellent book. The reason I’m selling this copy is because I have another copy. Although somewhat geared towards agricultural professionals, it is not a difficult read, no different than Julia Morton’s Fruits of Warm Climates, which I would put it on par with as far as essential fruit books to own. The major fruits get more coverage, and you are not going to find any obscure Eugenias in it, but at nearly 1000 pages, there isn’t a more comprehensive fruit book that has ever been published. Its comprehensiveness is matched by its original price tag of $390, though CABI let it go out-of-print a few years ago, content to sell eBooks at an even higher price. Although this copy is not in perfect condition, it is still a great reference copy from a reliable seller at a price lower than other comparable copies.



Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics: An Inventory was written by Franklin W. Martin, Carl W. Campbell, and Ruth M. Rubertι and published in 1987 by the United States Department of Agriculture. It is Agriculture Handbook No. 642. It is a softcover that measures 8.5x10.875 in. (215x275 mm.) with 247 pages. No ISBN number. The text is in English, and it is a text-heavy book, illustrated by black-and-white photographs. Photographs of a few pages will give you an idea of the book's contents and how they are arranged.

Book description from the inside front cover: “The edible fruits of the Tropics are many in number, varied in form, and irregular in distribution. They can be categorized as major or minor. Only about 300 Tropical fruits can be considered great. These are outstanding in one or more of the following: Size, beauty, flavor, and nutritional value. In contrast are the more than 3,000 fruits that can be considered minor, limited severely by one or more defects, such as very small size, poor taste or appeal, limited adaptability, or limited distribution. The major fruits are not all well known. Some excellent fruits which rival the commercialized greatest are still relatively unknown in other parts of the Tropics and should be promoted. Introducing new fruits into a country is often difficult, however, and must be done legally. Obtaining information on the fruits and their sources is a first step, and this publication provides much of that information. This publication also lists minor fruits as completely as can be done with the present state of knowledge.”

Condition: This book is in good condition. “Weed Science Lab” is written on the front cover, but there are no other signs that this was a library book. The softcovers have the aforementioned writing, light soiling to the rear cover, a light cup ring to the front cover, and light edgewear, including very light creasing to the front cover along the spine and at the fore edge corners, but the softcovers have no tears or other major damage. The spine is not creased; the binding is strong and intact. The interior is clean and unmarked with no writing, highlighting, or underlining and has no tears, dog-eared pages, stains, mold, or any major damage. The page edges have no remainder mark, foxing, stains, or any major damage.

The price for this book is $45 $40.

My opinion: Still a nice resource, despite it being an older book. A few names and taxonomic relationships have been changed over the years, but I was surprised how much is still unchanged today, at least 99%. The minor fruits get a short shrift, with those just getting a scientific name, common name, location, and use. The major fruits get terse but valuable descriptions. The value of this book is in browsing and discovering new plants to add to one’s collection, something I’ve done many times. I’m not adding much to my collection currently or for the foreseeable future, which is why I’m willing to let this book go. Although this copy is not in perfect condition, print copies of this title are very rare, and it is still a great reference copy from a reliable seller at a price lower than any other copy online.



Tropical Forests and Their Crops was written by Nigel J. H. Smith, J. T. Williams, Donald L. Plucknett, and Jennifer P. Talbot and published in 1992 by Comstock Publishing Associates, a division of Cornell University Press in Ithaca, New York. It is a hardcover that measures 6.5x9.625 in. (164x244 mm.) with xvi+568 pages. The ISBN-10/ISBN-13 numbers are 0801427711/9780801427718. The text is in English, and it is a text-heavy book, illustrated by black-and-white photographs. Photographs of the table of contents and a couple of pages will give you an idea of the book's contents and how they are arranged.

Book description: “The tropics are the source of many of our familiar fruits, vegetables, oils, and spice, as well as such commodities as rubber and wood. Moreover, other tropical fruits and vegetables are being introduced into our markets to offer variety to our diet. Now, as tropical forests are increasingly threatened, we face a double-fold crisis: not only the loss of the plants but also rich pools of potentially useful genes. Wild populations of crop plants harbor genes that can improve the productivity and disease resistance of cultivated crops, many of which are vital to developing economies and to global commerce. Eight chapters of this book are devoted to a variety of tropical crops―beverages, fruit, starch, oil, resins, fuelwood, fodder, spices, timber, and nuts―the history of their domestication, their uses today, and the known extent of their gene pools, both domesticated and wild. Drawing on broad research, the authors also consider conservation strategies such as parks and reserves, corporate holdings, gene banks and tissue culture collections, and debt-for-nature swaps. They stress the need for a sensitive balance between conservation and the economic well-being of local populations. If economic growth is part of the conservation effort, local populations and governments will be more strongly motivated to save their natural resources. Distinctly practical and soundly informative, this book provides insight into the overwhelming abundance of tropical forests, an unsettling sense of what we may lose if they are destroyed, and a deep appreciation for the delicate relationships between tropical forest plants and people around the world.”

Condition: This book is in good condition. Ex-library with some library markings: a spine label, library stamps on the top page edge, and library stamps and barcode remnants on the inside covers. The dust jacket is missing (though there seems to be some dispute whether this book originally had one). The hardcover boards have light rubbing at the corners but no tears, creases, stains, or any major damage. The binding is strong and intact. The interior is mostly clean and unmarked with no writing or highlighting but with some pencil underlining in the mango section (as well as the aforementioned library markings) and has no tears, dog-eared pages, stains, mold, or other major damage. The page edges have the aforementioned library stamps but no remainder mark, foxing, stains, or other major damage.

The price for this book is $15. SOLD

My opinion: A great look at the ecology and anthropology of tropical fruits. It is not a growing guide in any way, which is why I am willing to sell it. However, the very detailed chapters on cacao and avocado (nearly 70 pages combined on various aspects of history, breeding programs, uses, etc.) are worth the purchase price alone to those interested in those fruits. Many other major fruits are also discussed at length. Although this copy is not in perfect condition, it is still a great reference copy of an interesting out-of-print book from a reliable seller at an affordable price.

I am selling off some of my extra plants. Some of these are relatively common plants, others are a little harder to find. With the exception of some Osmocote fertilizer, these plants have been grown organically. Some of the plants do not look perfect but all are healthy. Just about all these plants are root-bound and need to be up-potted, which you should do once they become acclimated to your growing area.

These plants have all been grown in a partly sunny location. They should be introduced to full sun conditions gradually to prevent any leaf burn or other damage.

These plants will be shipped using USPS Priority Mail with the shipping costs based on the size, weight, number of plants ordered, and buyer location. I will do what I can to save you money on shipping costs by making these plants as compact as possible for shipping without damaging them. They will not be shipped bare root; they will be shipped in their container with potting soil, as pictured. I do not ship internationally. Buyers in California, Arizona, and Hawaii purchase plants at your own risk; I am not responsible if they are confiscated.

Payment through PayPal.

Feel free to contact me with any questions you might have.

Scientific Name (Common Name) – Number of Seedlings Available – Seedling Size (Pot Height Not Included) – Seedling Age – Price Per Plant
Also included is where I purchased the seeds.


Eugenia uniflora var. Dasyblasta (Dasyblasta/Smooth Pitanga/Surinam Cherry) – 1 – 17” tall – 2 years – $35
Seeds purchased from a Tropical Fruit Forum member.


Myrciaria floribunda (Rumberry/Guavaberry) Group Pot – 5 plants in 1 pot – 2"-6" tall – Sold as a Group – $75
Myrciaria floribunda seeds are notorious for having a poor germination rate, something that has been discussed on this Forum by myself and others. When I purchased these seeds in late 2020, a few came up quickly that winter and a few more came up gradually in the spring and summer of 2021. Most of them, about a dozen seeds, did absolutely nothing, so I took them out of their seed starting tray and placed them in this group pot. I kept it watered but generally paid no attention to it. In the fall and winter of 2022, four seeds germinated, and at the end of April of this year, a fifth seed germinated. Over two years after first being planted! So, this pot contains those five plants plus all the other seeds I threw in there in 2021 (6 to 9 ungerminated seeds) which may or may not still be viable. It goes to show that you should never give up on Myrciaria floribunda seeds. I ended up with a decent germination rate after all; it just took over two years.


Myrciaria floribunda (Rumberry/Guavaberry) – 1 – 5” tall – 2 years – $22
Seeds purchased from a Tropical Fruit Forum member.


Myrciaria glazioviana (Yellow Jaboticaba) – 2 – 10-15” tall – 2 years – $30 for the 10" plant, $35 for the 15" plant
Seeds purchased from Farwell Fruit Farm.


Plinia rivularis (Guaporeti) – 2 1 – 7-10” tall – 2 years – $30
Purchased from a reputable eBay seller. Due to a lack of rain in my area, I had to water them with city water for a while. That caused the tip burn to the leaves. The new growth does not have that issue since I have been able to resume watering them with rainwater.


Psidium guineense (Brazilian Guava) – 1 – 20” tall (pruned down to that size) – 2 years – $40
Seeds purchased from Trade Winds Fruit.

I am growing several varieties and species of Plinias, Myricarias, and Eugenias. For almost every species or variety, I have at least two plants, the heir and the spare as one might say. But as one can see in the news, spares can sometimes become troublesome. In my case, the trouble comes from the amount of space growing two of everything takes; my "ark" just isn't big enough right now.

So, my question is can I expect to get good fruit production if I only keep one plant of each of my Plinia, Myrciaria, and Eugenia species? I know that different varieties of the same species should have no difficulties with cross-pollination, but what about cross-pollination among different species? Will a Plinia nana and a Plinia rivularis be able to pollinate each other? How about a Eugenia repanda and a Eugenia involucrata? Or a Myrciaria floribunda and Myrciaria glazioviana? There are conflicting reports both online and on the Forum, particularly about Eugenias, so I would appreciate if anyone has a definitive answer.

Griffith Review, an Australian journal, has an article about blueberry breeding and production in Australia in their latest issue, Number 78. The article is titled "Big Blueberry" and is by Nicole Hasham. The parts I found very interesting were about Ridley Bell of Mountain Blue Orchards and his decades-long breeding program for creating improved blueberries. Hopefully, someday (probably once his patent expires), his Eureka variety will be available for home growers in the US.

Here is the link: https://www.griffithreview.com/articles/big-blueberry/

The CCPP (Citrus Clonal Protection Program) at UC Riverside decided to celebrate reaching the program's landmark 1000th variety by adding a landmark tree to their collection: the Mother Orange Tree at Bidwell's Bar. I am somewhat surprised it had not already been added to the CCPP's collection for its historical significance, even though the tree is just a type of Mediterranean sweet orange. But, it is certainly a survivor. The variety is labeled as "Bidwell's Bar."

Link to the press release: https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2022/06/08/you-too-can-grow-californias-oldest-living-orange-variety

I came across an article published yesterday, February 20, in the Modesto Bee about a woman's 55-year-old Puebla Avocado tree, which is likely in peril of being cut down as the land it grows on is for sale. Specialty Produce in San Diego formerly bought and marketed the fruit of this Modesto tree. I am not an avocado expert, so I do not know if the journalist got all the facts right about this variety. What I do know is that it might be worth it for some growers in the area to try and acquire some scions off the tree, at the least, to preserve it.

The article is titled, "Property with rare avocado tree has fascinating back story. And it’s almost for sale" and is at this link: https://www.modbee.com/opinion/garth-stapley/article258424913.html

I have too many plants and need to clear out some space before winter. So, I am selling off some extra seedlings/plants. A lot of people seem to be doing that here on the Forum, right now. Some of these are relatively common plants, others are hard to find (such as Pouteria glomerata) and difficult to germinate (Nauclea xanthoxylon). These seedlings have been grown organically, in sterile potting mix, using Garden Safe Neem Oil Extract to prevent pests and Jobe’s Organics Fruit & Citrus Granular Plant Food for fertilizer. Some of the plants do not look perfect (the passion fruits in particular were eaten heavily by gulf fritillary caterpillars) but all are healthy.

These plants will be shipped using USPS Priority Mail with the shipping costs based on the size, weight, number of plants ordered, and buyer location. They will not be shipped bare root; they will be shipped in a container with potting soil, though they may be down-potted to reduce weight. I do not ship internationally. The citrus plants cannot be shipped to the citrus states and territories due to USDA regulations. Buyers in California, Arizona, and Hawaii purchase these plants at your own risk; I am not responsible if they are confiscated.

Payment through PayPal.

Feel free to contact me with any questions you might have.

Scientific Name (Common Name) – Number of Seedlings Available – Seedling Size – Seedling Age – Price Per Plant


Annona cherimola (Cherimoya) – 3 – 18”-25” tall – over 2 years – $20


Annona reticulata (Custard Apple) – 2 – 7”-10” tall – over 1 year – $12 SOLD

Annona squamosa (Sugar Apple) – 3 – 19”-21” tall – over 2 years – $18 SOLD


Annona squamosa (Red Sugar Apple) – 10 – 14”-20” tall – over 2 years – $15 SOLD


Annona squamosa (Purple Sugar Apple) – 8 – 4”-10” tall – under 1 year – $10 SOLD


Averrhoa carambola (Starfruit) – 2 1 – 44” tall – 3 years – $40 (clay pots not included)


Carissa macrocarpa (Natal Plum) – 2 – 3”-4” tall – under 1 year – $10


Citrus Χ limonia (Rangpur Lime) – 2 – 6”-10 ½” tall – over 2 years – $10
Citrus Χ limonia (Rangpur Lime) – 2 – 15” tall – over 2 years – $20
Citrus Χ limonia (Rangpur Lime) – 2 – 22”-26” tall – over 2 years – $27


Citrus Χ meyeri (Meyer Lemon) – 7 – 9”-15” tall – over 2 years – $15
Citrus Χ meyeri (Meyer Lemon) – 6 – 18”-23” tall – over 2 years – $22


C. reticulata Χ sinensis (Murcott Orange/Honey Tangerine) – 17 15 – 7”-14” tall (average height 10", tallest plants sold first) – over 2 years – $20


Citrus x sinensis (Moro Blood Orange) – 25 – 7”-19” tall (average height 10"-12", tallest plants sold first) – over 2 years – $25


Citrus Χ tangelo (Minneola Tangelo) – 2 – 13”-15” tall – over 2 years – $22


Eugenia involucrata (Cherry of the Rio Grande) – 1 – 9” tall – over 1 year – $20 (clay pot not included)


Eugenia itaguahiensis (Dwarf Grumichama) – 1 – 3” tall – under 1 year – $25


Eugenia pyriformis or lutescens (Sweet Uvaia) – 1 – 6 ½” tall – under 1 year – $25


Eugenia repanda (Pitanga-Jambo) – 3 – 2"-3 ½” tall – over 1 year – $50 (sold as a group, clay pot not included)


Eugenia selloi (Pitangatuba) – 1 – 18” tall – over 2 years – $40 (clay pot not included)


Eugenia uniflora (Surinam Cherry) – 4 – 9”-15” tall – over 2 years – $15
Eugenia uniflora (Surinam Cherry) – 8 – 17”-23” tall – over 2 years – $25


Eugenia uniflora var. Dasyblasta (Dasyblasta/Smooth Pitanga/Surinam Cherry) – 2 – 5 ½”-6 ½” tall – under 1 year – $20


Nauclea xanthoxylon (Ndea) – 3 2 – 5”-8 ½” tall – under 1 year – $40


Passiflora edulis (Purple Passion Fruit) – 10 – over 18” long (trimmed back to that length) – over 2 years – $15


Plinia hybrid (Scarlet/Escarlate Jaboticaba) – 1 – 5” tall – over 1 year – $20 SOLD


Plinia phitrantha (Branca Jaboticaba) – 2 1 (photo is of the remaining plant) – 7” tall – over 1 year – $22


Plinia rivularis (Guaporeti) – 4 – 3-7” tall – under 1 year – $25 SOLD


Pouteria glomerata (Cinnamon Apple) – 2 – 5” tall – under 1 year – $40 SOLD


Pouteria sapota (Mamey Sapote) – 1 – 23” tall – over 1 year – $35 (pot not included) SOLD


Psidium guajava (Patillo Guava) – 7 6 – 3”-5” tall – under 1 year – $10


Psidium longipetiolatum (Araca Vermelho) – 3 2 – 13”-20” tall – under 1 year – $15
Psidium longipetiolatum (Araca Vermelho) – 4 2 – 26”-27” tall – under 1 year – $25


Psidium striatulum (Narrow Leafed Guava) – 3 1 – 30”-34” tall – under 1 year – $25

   
Syzygium jambos (Rose Apple) – 2 – 30”-33” tall – over 2 years – $60 (pots not included)