Author Topic: Davidson Plum in Florida  (Read 1187 times)

Jungle Yard

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Davidson Plum in Florida
« on: July 02, 2022, 02:13:31 PM »
Does anyone grow Davidsonia pruriens (Davidson Plum) in Florida? How successful are you? Any fruiting? Cold resistance? Thanks!
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Jungle Yard

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Re: Davidson Plum in Florida
« Reply #1 on: July 03, 2022, 07:33:04 PM »
No one in Florida growing it? Or tried?
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W.

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Re: Davidson Plum in Florida
« Reply #2 on: July 03, 2022, 10:39:33 PM »
Davidson plum is pretty rare in cultivation in the US. Most of the posts I have seen on the Forum have been people wanting seeds or plants and being unable to acquire either. That being said, I would think at least someone here on the Forum living in Florida has one in his or her collection.

kar1ma3

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Re: Davidson Plum in Florida
« Reply #3 on: July 04, 2022, 02:08:17 AM »
I'm growing Davidson's plum (Davidsonia Pruriens), quite easy to grow and to fruit, usually fruits twice a year (in March-May & July-October), 4 years from seed. Tall tree (Pruriens), grows like a palm. I shake the tree to get fruits when ready. Very acidic fruit and looks like a regular plum. Extra watering and mulching helps. I use Espoma Holly tone fertilizer.
Seeds are flat and very thin. I do not sell seeds (only plants when available, not all seeds germinate).



« Last Edit: July 04, 2022, 02:29:50 AM by kar1ma3 »

Rispa

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Re: Davidson Plum in Florida
« Reply #4 on: July 04, 2022, 03:13:27 AM »
Just looked it up. It should amazing and like it would taste great once sweetened.

fruit nerd

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Re: Davidson Plum in Florida
« Reply #5 on: July 04, 2022, 06:24:12 AM »
What about Davidsonia jerseyana? This species is from NE New South Wales (a lot further south than tropical Queensland), might be reasonable to expect better cold tolerance?

Jungle Yard

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Re: Davidson Plum in Florida
« Reply #6 on: July 04, 2022, 06:52:04 AM »
What about Davidsonia jerseyana? This species is from NE New South Wales (a lot further south than tropical Queensland), might be reasonable to expect better cold tolerance?

I would assume that will be VERY hard to find outside of Australia.
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Jungle Yard

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Re: Davidson Plum in Florida
« Reply #7 on: July 04, 2022, 06:54:29 AM »
I'm growing Davidson's plum (Davidsonia Pruriens), quite easy to grow and to fruit, usually fruits twice a year (in March-May & July-October), 4 years from seed. Tall tree (Pruriens), grows like a palm. I shake the tree to get fruits when ready. Very acidic fruit and looks like a regular plum. Extra watering and mulching helps. I use Espoma Holly tone fertilizer.
Seeds are flat and very thin. I do not sell seeds (only plants when available, not all seeds germinate).




Thank you for the info. Much appreciated.
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pagnr

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Re: Davidson Plum in Florida
« Reply #8 on: July 04, 2022, 07:07:06 AM »
Davidsonia pruriens grows in the wild from the lowland coastal areas to the higher cooler upland areas.
There are suggestions that there are several forms.
Also occurs in NT and Vanuatu.
It is a fairly tough plant, not a sensitive ultra tropical.
Small plants can handle cold but not frost. Will defoliate but slowly recover from frost.

"What about Davidsonia jerseyana? This species is from NE New South Wales."

Yes it is a tougher plant, also shorter multi stem coppicing and very productive.
The fruit of both species is pretty similar.
Sour/tart but with depth. Equal to blood plums when stewed with sugar etc
Often there are two seeds, but one is a hollow blank.

Another species is Davidsonia johnsonii, a seedless clonal smooth leaf endangered species from the NSW /QLD border area.
« Last Edit: July 04, 2022, 07:09:01 AM by pagnr »

nattyfroootz

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Re: Davidson Plum in Florida
« Reply #9 on: July 04, 2022, 10:18:57 AM »
I am growing both D pruriens and D jerseyana in santa cruz California. D. Jerseyana has no problem in my climate. I haven't grown d. Pruriens outdoors here yet but I'm optimistic it will do well.

I sell seedlings of both on my website, d jerseyana is not in season right now though
Grow cooler fruits

www.wildlandsplants.com

elouicious

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Re: Davidson Plum in Florida
« Reply #10 on: July 04, 2022, 12:58:36 PM »
D. pruriens made it through winter with light covering last year here-

Dropped its leaves though

Jungle Yard

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Re: Davidson Plum in Florida
« Reply #11 on: July 04, 2022, 01:36:51 PM »
D. pruriens made it through winter with light covering last year here-

Dropped its leaves though

Could you please give more specifics? What were the lowest temps where you are? What do you mean by light covering? Thank you
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elouicious

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Re: Davidson Plum in Florida
« Reply #12 on: July 04, 2022, 02:22:06 PM »
I covered for a week with frost cloth when the temps dipped below freezing- I think 26f was the lowest we got this year

pagnr

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Re: Davidson Plum in Florida
« Reply #13 on: July 04, 2022, 05:47:38 PM »
What were the lowest temps ?
What temps are you working with in your area ?
For puriens I have seen a mature fruiting tree in Bellingen NSW, inland from Coffs Harbour.
That would be cool winter subtropics, and not just for the hippies that live in the area.
I am fairly sure it is grown at the Sydney Botanic Gardens, well outside the tropics.
I would say the tree is a tall understory plant that likes shelter when young.
I have collected seeds in Cape Tribulation area, and seedlings do ok in Victoria (Citrus growing region) in pots under shade cloth.
Didn't like frost but grew back their leaves. Cool nights not a big problem, but will slow growth.
D. jerseyana didn't defoliate under the same conditions.

fruit nerd

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Re: Davidson Plum in Florida
« Reply #14 on: July 05, 2022, 04:45:02 AM »
Interesting stuff. I guess the Sydney Botanic Gardens would have an excellent micro-climate with the city providing some protection from strong SW/W'ly winds and water of the harbour moderating temperatures.

johnnyv

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Re: Davidson Plum in Florida
« Reply #15 on: July 15, 2022, 05:38:16 PM »
Grows fine in Auckland NZ. But it is very rare to have a frost here at least where I am close to water.
Miserable cold wet winters are fairly normal though and it is fine with that, just stops growing until it warms up again.