The Tropical Fruit Forum

burn it-

def dont want it in the GH

Ugh shit-

I knew he was having health troubles but this is terrible news,

thanks for sharing Jabo

Ive sourced them from palologrower before

Quote from: Luisg001 on March 19, 2025, 11:42:53 PM

Does anyone know a good seller?!

I’d rather buy a more mature plant so it’s more resistant to ambient changes.

Where did you buy it from?
I will be real honest with you, a true mangosteen will never fruit where you or I live unless you have a super elaborate set up and over a decades worth of time

XD already sounding so grizzled Jabo- Congrats on 3k posts

It can be done Luis- there are examples of people producing a few mangosteen on a grafted potted tree-

It is not going to happen next year, and will take a significant amount of effort on your part though

cold damage-

Maybe you will get lucky but these really dont like cold-

Other than what you're already doing the only other change I would make would be RO water

Quote from: elouicious on March 17, 2025, 10:13:54 AM

ive made donations to houston botanic garden in the past

Do they have things set up for tropicals?

they have a setup for overwintering, not sure about long term plans for a permanent set up

Hey all,

Basically title, if I can get cuttings or a plant bonus but will also take seeds

Cheers

Very cool fruit?

How old are they?

Looking like they are loving life out there

Hey Brian,

How frequently do you ship seeds?

Placed an order ~2 weeks ago and still waiting for shipping

ive made donations to houston botanic garden in the past

Jump on these while you can!

Frank is a great seller, and if you have never tried a jabo you definitely should before spending years growing a tree

The current list-

Aptenia cordifolia “Brakvygie” “Ibohlololo” - good for anything
Aizoaceae. Sprawling groundcover with succulent lime green heart shaped leaves. Bright red-pink flowers bloom Spring through Autumn. A South African native that is an important medicine for Zulu healers. Applied externally the plant is a highly effective anti-inflammatory. An infusion of the leaves is used for sore throats and as a anti-perspirant. A black powder is made from the plant that is said to protect against sorcery and possess magical powers. The presence of several mesembrine alkaloids also found in Sceletium, probably account for the plant being good for calming anxiety. Simple to grow. Roots quickly from cuttings. Z8b
Text sourced from sacredsucculents.com


Austromyrtus dulcis “Midyim Berry” - havent seen one set fruit yet, pretty plant
Myrtaceae. Perfect addition to the edible landscape: a low growing evergreen groundcover to shrub, 1–6′ high. Small lanceolate leaves, dark glossy-green with silky undersides. New growth is burgundy to bronze. A profusion of small white flowers followed by white, mauve-speckled, edible berries. Native to eastern coastal Australia inland to the rainforest ecotones. The berries are a delicious traditional bushfood with a melt in your mouth, sweet-tart, aromatic flavor similar to Ugni. Easy to grow, plants in bright sunny positions remain low growing, partial shade encourages height. Tolerates some frost once established. Z9a
Text sourced from sacredsucculents.com

Arachis glabrata - Perennial peanut
Florida’s hot summers and sandy soils can pose a challenge for some plants, but not this tough plant. Perennial peanut is a versatile groundcover that can be planted statewide and blooms all summer long with cheerful golden flowers.
It can be planted on its own as a groundcover in larger beds or used as a lawn alternative in areas that receive low levels of foot traffic. It also can be inter-planted within some existing lawns.
This spreading groundcover is particularly effective on sites that have problems with erosion, since the rhizomes grow to form a mat that helps hold soil in place.
Perennial peanut is evergreen in frost-free areas of the state. In colder parts of the state, it will drop its leaves, exposing its brown rhizomes. If you’re using perennial peanut as a lawn substitute, you can overseed the area with ryegrass to keep the area looking green throughout the winter.
Some of the best features of perennial peanut are its resistance to nematodes, pathogens, and drought. Plus it requires little fertilizer.

Text sourced from https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/perennial-peanut/

Disterigma empetrifolium-
Disterigma empetrifolium is a low-growing, usually much-branched, terrestrial shrub, that can be bushy and to 0.5 metres tall; or prostrate and matted; or forming cushions to a few centimetres high; according to the habitat in which it grows. The plant is often harvested from the wild for its edible fruit, which is occasionally sold in local markets in Ecuador. Fruit -  edible raw. Tender, crisp and juicy, with a subacid flavour, they are very refreshing. Berry spherical, to 8-12 mm diam., translucent white, sometimes with pale greenish tint. An infusion is used for treating nerves.

Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2025-03-10. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Disterigma+empetrifolium>

Ficus Pumila - creeping fig
Creeping fig is a broadleaf, evergreen, woody, climber in the mulberry family (Moraceae). It is native to central and southern China and eastern Asia. It is a vigorous grower and, in favorable conditions, will climb 8 to 15 feet high and spread 3 to 6 feet wide. It climbs, like English ivy, by attaching itself to walls or supports via clusters of short roots. The species epithet means “small,” which is true only in comparison to other species of Ficus, most of which are large trees.
The creeping fig is not reliably winter hardy in most of North Carolina; severe cold will kill the climber to the ground. It is more often grown as an annual groundcover, as a houseplant, or in a greenhouse. Indoors, grow it in a soil-based potting mix placed in a spot that receives bright indirect light or part shade and protection from afternoon sun. Water regularly during the growing season and reduce watering from fall to late winter. Prune as needed. When grown outdoors, the plant prefers partial shade or dappled sunlight but will tolerate full sun in moist, well-drained soil high in organic matter. It does best in high humidity. Grown on a south-facing wall, it may overwinter more reliably. It is drought, deer, and moderately salt tolerant.
Creeping fig can cement itself to porous surfaces and will cover moist surfaces quickly. It will climb a rock wall or another vertical space in a butterfly garden or use it as a ground cover. Variegated forms are available.

Text sourced from- https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/ficus-pumila/

Fragaria x ananassa - Strawberry
Fragaria × ananassa (the cultivated strawberry) is a herbaceous perennial plant producing a rosette of leaves from a short central stem (the crown). The plant grows around 30cm tall and wide.
Unknown in the wild, the plant is widely cultivated, especially in the temperate zone but also at higher elevations in the tropics, for its edible fruit.
Fruit - raw. Fruits of the best cultivars are sweet and succulent with an exquisite flavour. Strawberries are a very popular fruit and are widely available in the summer. The fruit of some cultivars is up to 3cm in diameter.
The fruits are a good source of vitamin C, they can be eaten fresh, frozen, in confectionery or made into jam, ice cream, or beverage.

Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2025-03-12. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Fragaria+%C3%97+ananassa>

Gynura bicolor “hongfeng cai 紅鳳菜, okinawan spinach or edible gynura”
A member of the chrysanthemum family (Asteraceae). It is native to China, Thailand, and Myanmar but grown in many other places as a vegetable and as a medicinal herb Gynura bicolor is rich in iron and potassium, calcium, vitamin A, etc. According to Chinese food grouping, Gynura bicolor is a 'cool' food,[3] so the leaves are stir-fried with sesame oil and ginger (both 'hotter' foods) to achieve a balance. The stems and roots of the plant can also be made into tea by boiling with water. Choose leaves with few bruises and without black stains.[citation needed] In Japan, Gynura bicolor is eaten as local vegetable in Ishikawa, Kumamoto and Okinawa and so on, blanched lightly and served with ponzu, as an ingredient of miso soup, or tempura

Gynura procumbens “ Sabuñgai or Sambung Nyawa or longevity spinach”
An edible vine found in China, Southeast Asia, and Africa. Leaves are ovate-elliptic or lanceolate, 3.5 to 8 centimeters long, and 0.8 to 3.5 centimeters wide. Flowering heads are panicled, narrow, yellow, and 1 to 1.5 centimeters long. The plant grows wild but is also cultivated as a vegetable or medicinal plant. Its young leaves are used for cooking, such as with meat and prawns in a vegetable soup


Houttuynia cordata - “Tsi, Fish Mint”
Houttuynia cordata is an erect to ascending, herbaceous perennial plant growing from a rhizomatous rootstock. The stems are creeping near their base, often rooting at leaf nodes, and the plant forming a cluster or mat of growth from 5 - 60cm tall.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. It is cultivated for medicinal and food use in eastern Asia and is also often grown as an ornamental, where it can be used to form a ground cover.
Tender young shoots and leaves - raw or cooked as a pot-herb. The leaves and young shoots are harvested in the spring when about 8cm long. Strongly aromatic according to one report whilst others say that it is rather smelly and somewhat like rotten fish. Our experience is that the leaves have a delicious orange-like smell and make a marvellous flavouring in salads.
One report says that there are two distinct chemotypes of this species. Plants from Japan have an orange scent, whilst those from China have a smell resembling coriander leaves (Coriandrum sativum).
Some people seem to really like this leaf, others are indifferent to it or strongly dislike it. It also varies quite considerably according to the time of year. In the spring and summer it has a very acceptable flavour, but by autumn a distinct bitterness has crept in. Root - cooked. Same comments on the smell as for the leaves. Fruit. No further details, but the fruit is a capsule that contains many small seeds.
Text sourced from Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2021-09-13. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Houttuynia+cordata>

Justicia pectorallis var. Stenophylla - ultra tropical, amazing tea
Justicia is a plant employed widely in northwest Brazil and Venezuela. It is used medicinally to treat pulmonary problems. The leaves are aromatic and are often mixed with snuffs or used alone. It is a plant used in curing practices. I GREATLY enjoy drying the leaves from this plant and putting them throughout the house to scent it with the leaves WONDERFUL fragrance. The leaves can also be ground up and made into a tea, it has an intense calming and grounding effect. The leaves can also be gel capped and taken as a smooth muscle relaxer, sedative. Many uses for one of my favorite plants!
Text from heavenlyplants.com

Lobelia nummularia-
Lobelia nummularia is a polymorphous, annual to perennial, creeping or hanging plant. The branched stems can be 8 - 60cm long, forming roots at the nodes.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and food. Many, if not all, species in the genus Lobelia contain a range of piperidine alkaloids, particularly lobeline and lobelanine. If ingested, these can cause a range of symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, salivation, exhaustion and weakness, dilation of pupils, convulsions, and coma. Generally, the degree of toxicity is only moderate and plants are only harmful in larger quantities - indeed several species have medicinal uses and a few are even eaten as wild foods. Leaves and young shoots - cooked and eaten as a vegetable. Ripe fruits are edible.
The plant is used in the treatment of irregular menstruation and spermatorrhoea. A paste made from the plant is applied topically to treat muscular swellings. The pounded leaves are sometimes used in the treatment of sprue. The fruits or leaves are used to treat stomach-ache, difficult urination, scabies, infected eyes, swellings and boils. A paste made from the fruit is taken as a treatment for diarrhoea and dysentery. A paste of the fruits is applied topically to treat cuts and wounds.


Myrteola nummularifolia “Groundcover Guava” - promising, pretty, havent tasted the fruit yet
Myrtaceae. Ground hugging evergreen subshrub to 6" high and 2–3' across. Red stems and small, dark green, rounded leaves, pleasantly scented if crushed (makes great tea!). Little white flowers and abundant, round to oblong berries, rose to pink blushed with a sweet, aromatic flavor similar to Ugni. Plants in cultivation can probably be traced to Hinkley’s introduction from southern Chiloe. A handsome edible groundcover. Z7b?
Text sourced from sacredsucculents.com

Plectranthus amboinicus- Cuban Oregano
Cuban oregano is an herb of ambiguous origin and many names. Mexican mint, Spanish thyme, and Indian borage are just a few; some people even call it “Vicks plant,” because its camphor and menthol aroma is similar to the cough salve.
With all these conflicting names one may wonder, what is this plant? P. amboinicus isn’t oregano, mint, thyme, or borage, although it is a member of the Lamiaceae family like these and some other herbs.
This perennial evergreen herb reaches about 19 inches tall and has a spreading growth habit. With aromatic, velvety leaves, this herb makes a great addition to any garden. The menthol or camphor scent of this plant is particularly strong when the leaves are crushed. Used in poultry stuffings, beef, lamb, and game dishes, this herb can easily overpower other flavors, so use sparingly.
This is an ideal herb to grow in partial shade. P. amboinicus requires well-drained soil, only occasional irrigation (if any), and little else as far as maintenance is concerned. You should see blooms from your plants from late winter to mid-spring depending on your area. This plant is frost-tender, so while it does well in sub-tropical and tropical areas, gardeners in cooler climates should plant in pots that can be moved indoors when temperatures plummet.

Text sourced from - https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/cuban-oregano/

Romulea rosea “Frutangs” - beautiful blooms, not much "coverage"
Iridaceae. Bulbous plant with stiff, narrow leaves to 6–12" long. Relatively large, star shaped, rose-pink flowers with yellow centers. Native to the Cape
of South Africa. The unripe green fleshy fruit are eaten. A summer dormant winter grower, does well in our garden. Z8a
Text sourced from sacredsucculents.com


Rubus pentalobus syn. calycinoides - pretty tasty and beautiful, relatively large foliage, likely not heat tolerant
Creeping Raspberry is a unique ground-covering raspberry species that goes by many names including Emerald Carpet, Formosan Raspberry, and Taiwanese Ground Raspberry. This is truly an exceptional raspberry unlike any other that we’ve grown. In fact, you probably wouldn’t even know it’s a raspberry plant at all if not for the fruit! Creeping Raspberry trails along the ground, forming a thick mat of dark, leathery leaves that are adorned by snowy white flowers in early summer and vibrant golden, delicious raspberries by midsummer.
Creeping Raspberry is a thornless plant, but does have small hairs that can be a little rough on the hands. Plants are a favorite for bees and are very adaptable form shade to sun, are drought and frost tolerant, and are easily pruned. Creeping Raspberry tolerates foot traffic, so don’t hesitate to get in there and go berry picking!
Cold hardy to USDA zone 6a and above, or to -10 degrees Fahrenheit.
Text from wanderlust nursery.

Salpichroa origanifolia - "Cock’s Eggs” - haven't tasted the fruit, great contender
Salpichroa origanifolia is a very fast-growing, perennial, climbing plant with somewhat woody stems. Although the fruits have a poor flavour raw, they are often gathered from the wild for use as preserves and are commonly found for sale in local markets. A plant of the warm temperate to tropical zones, being found at elevations above 1,000 metres in the tropics. Plants are susceptible to frost, even the fleshy roots can be killed by temperatures down to freezing. Prefers a sunny position. Thrives in alkaline soils. Fruit. Of poor flavour raw. Often used to make preserves. The white or yellow, ovoid fruit is 18mm x 8mm.
Text sourced from Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2021-10-05. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Salpichroa+origanifolia>


Solanum muricatum - “Pepino dulce” - good fruit, takes a lot of water/fertilizer
Solanum muricatum is a short-lived, evergreen sub-shrub growing about 1 metre tall.
The plant has been cultivated for its edible fruit in S. America for hundreds of years, since before the Europeans arrived. Its cultivation has spread to other areas of the Tropics and subtropics.
Fruit - raw. A juicy, sweet aromatic and very agreeable flavour, somewhat like a honeydew melon. The skin of some varieties has a disagreeable flavour. The fruit contains 35mg vitamin C per 100g, 7% carbohydrates and 92% water. The fruit should be harvested just before it is fully ripe and will store for several weeks at room temperature. The fruit is about 10cm long and 6cm wide.
Text sourced from sacredsucculents.com

Talinum triangulare - African Waterleaf
Waterleaf is a vegetable crop native to and grown in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America (USDA, NRCS 2020). This crop belongs to the purslane family, Portulaceae (Carolin 1987). Waterleaf (Talinum triangulare (Jacq.) Willd) is often used interchangeably with Talinum fruticosum (L.) Juss (Schippers 2000). Waterleaf is commonly known as Ceylon spinach, Surinam purslane, Philippine spinach, Grassé grand pourpier, Blatt-ginseng, Lustrosa-grande, Espinaca de Java, and Sweetheart (USDA, NPGS 2020). Waterleaf is a short life-span species and takes an average of only 30–45 days from planting to harvest (Iren et al. 2017). The edible leaves are soft, succulent, and highly nutritious (Figure 1). Waterleaf does not appear on the list of invasive plants species evaluated by the UF/IFAS Assessment (http://assessment.ifas.ufl.edu). This vegetable is available in some local grocery stores in Florida but is new to most people in Florida and its environs. This article will give an overview of this emerging vegetable in Florida. The intended audience is county Extension faculty, students, growers, and consumers.
The plants of this crop can adapt to varying climate conditions and low soil fertility (de Oliveira Amorim et al. 2014). Waterleaf production is economically attractive due to low cost for seeds, pesticides, and herbicides for producing the crop. Like other leafy vegetables, waterleaf can be grown in home gardens as well.

Text sourced from https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/HS1434

Tradescantia zebrina -  Wandering Dude
There are a number of tradescantia plants very similar in looks, how they’re grown and their growth habit, including the T. zebrina (which has dark green leaves with silver bands), the Tradescantia Fluminensis variegata with cream stripes, and quicksilver which has white stripes. Then there’s the T. Pallida from the same genus which is sometimes named Wandering Jew plant but looks very different from the Tradescantia Fluminensis and Zebrina.
Foliage
Fleshy oval or lance-shaped leaves are produced from the pendant stems (growing a couple of feet or so long). These small leaves have a shiny appearance and grow to about 2 – 4 inches long with pointed tips. The underside of a leaf is purple in color on the zebrina and new leaves appear purple at first, then turn green. In the wild or grown in gardens (grown as a bedding plant) stems take root at the nodes, but indoors in a hanging basket or container they grow and hang over the sides.
Tradescantia Fluminensis
Flowering
The small non-showy flowers are white in color, appearing during summer usually and at other times (depending on the conditions). These flowers appear in clusters and display three small petals.
Wandering dude plants are pretty simple to care for and maintain, although providing plenty of bright light is important. Tradescantia naturally becomes spindly and needs to be pruned regularly and pinching stems will encourage fuller growth, improving its appearance.
Origin:   South America, Mexico.
Names:   Wandering Jew, Wandering Dude, Dude, purple wandering jew, Flowering Inch Plant (common). Tradescantia Zebrina, Tradescantia Fluminensis [Syn. T. Albiflora] — (botanical/scientific).
Max Growth (approx):   Stems grow over 2ft long.
Poisonous for pets:   The wandering jew plant is toxic to cats and toxic to dogs however not fatal according to the ASPCA.

Typhonium roxburghii - Dwarf Voodoo Lily
(syn: Typhonium blumei) "Honey...I shrunk the amorphophallus." Thanks to Jim Waddick for sharing this stunning and easy-to-grow little aroid that is completely unknown to all but the most devout plant geeks. The glossy green, hastate-shaped leaves emerge in June to make a small, 1' tall (with age) x 1' wide clump. After the leaves emerge, Typhonium roxburghii begins producing flowers like a limp, dwarf Amorphophallus konjac, with an equally interesting aroma. This is a great specimen subject for the woodland garden. If you have neighbors that you hate, plant one near their open window for a great laugh! We previously offered this under the incorrect name of Typhonium divaricatum.

Text sourced from https://www.plantdelights.com/products/typhonium-roxburghii?srsltid=AfmBOoorM-if8eTjRoALjGRLyvWtDPOqM29phzzxjN7SUYyH2vl_q7vA

Viola adunca - Dog Violet
Dog Violet (Viola adunca) is a hairy, compact plant with nodding purple flowers blooming from spring through summer. With dark green heart-shaped fragrant leaves spreading via rhizomes (horizontal underground stems), Dog Violet makes a low mat that covers the ground.Dog Violet grows in shade or part sun, prefers well-drained soil and needs watering year round. Dog Violet hosts moths and butterflies. Native to meadows and forests, Dog Violet makes a great mat groundcover for woodland and meadow gardens.
Plant Care and Growing

Two new contenders here- and only one is a neotropical blueberry!

Lobelia nummularia-
Lobelia nummularia is a polymorphous, annual to perennial, creeping or hanging plant. The branched stems can be 8 - 60cm long, forming roots at the nodes.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and food. Many, if not all, species in the genus Lobelia contain a range of piperidine alkaloids, particularly lobeline and lobelanine. If ingested, these can cause a range of symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, salivation, exhaustion and weakness, dilation of pupils, convulsions, and coma. Generally, the degree of toxicity is only moderate and plants are only harmful in larger quantities - indeed several species have medicinal uses and a few are even eaten as wild foods. Leaves and young shoots - cooked and eaten as a vegetable. Ripe fruits are edible.
The plant is used in the treatment of irregular menstruation and spermatorrhoea. A paste made from the plant is applied topically to treat muscular swellings. The pounded leaves are sometimes used in the treatment of sprue. The fruits or leaves are used to treat stomach-ache, difficult urination, scabies, infected eyes, swellings and boils. A paste made from the fruit is taken as a treatment for diarrhoea and dysentery. A paste of the fruits is applied topically to treat cuts and wounds.

Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2025-03-10. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Lobelia+nummularia>




Disterigma empetrifolium-

Disterigma empetrifolium is a low-growing, usually much-branched, terrestrial shrub, that can be bushy and to 0.5 metres tall; or prostrate and matted; or forming cushions to a few centimetres high; according to the habitat in which it grows. The plant is often harvested from the wild for its edible fruit, which is occasionally sold in local markets in Ecuador. Fruit -  edible raw. Tender, crisp and juicy, with a subacid flavour, they are very refreshing. Berry spherical, to 8-12 mm diam., translucent white, sometimes with pale greenish tint. An infusion is used for treating nerves.

Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2025-03-10. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Disterigma+empetrifolium>