The Tropical Fruit Forum

Anyone listening to this?

Seems to be of interest to this group- so far it has focused on over collection of rare cacti but wouldn't be surprised if they talk about other kinds of plant collecting soon

Hey All-

Trimming this bush as well-

Hasn't flowered yet but should soon as it is approaching 4 years old-

They are small- ~1/16 of an inch but a skilled grafter should be able to pull it off-

6 cuttings for $40 plus shipping

Hey All-

I have 4-5 well rooted Linda Pomegranate Cuttings for Sale

$20 per plant, discounts for multiple

Shipping for 1-2 plants $18

Here is a bit about the cultivar

This chance seedling is from the farm of Harvey Correia in Isleton. He grows various excellent cultivars of pomegranates, and he suspects that this tree is a seedling of one of them. The fruits are medium to large in size, very dark. The arils are very large and dark with soft seeds.  The seeds seem to be softer than Desertnyi's seeds. The flavor reminds me of Desertnyi, but a bit sweeter, like a cross with Vina. Overall, an excellent accession, and I am planning to make a tree for myself.

Sourced from- http://fruitsandgardening.blogspot.com/2020/11/pomegranate-cultivar-linda.html

Hey All-

I wanted to use this thread to document another hair brained idea- turning the excess macroalgae from my coral reef fish tank into a "seaweed" fertilizer. I do not recommend this for people to try- I am concerned about the salt levels and very likely will kill some plants before dialing this in, but currently this is a waste product for me that I would like to try to recycle back into my system rather than throwing away.

I have a 110 gallon reef that is a split style tank with the bottom functioning primarily as a refugium for said macroalgae and various invertebrates. Here is the main farming patch right now-







The known species are

• Chaetomorpha spp.
• Caulerpa spp.
• Halymenea spp.

And there are a few unknown/hitchhiker species. In the long term I may incorporate asterina starfish and other pest aquatic species into the mix as well.

For now I only had an overgrowth of the Caulerpa and so I trimmed some, washed it, and have placed it in the sun to dry.



I will then powder it and apply in small quantities to test plants that I have a multitude of the species.

Hey All-

So I found an Aerogarden for cheap recently, and in the interest of upping my greens consumption I decided to buy it-

I noticed that people often grow tomatoes in these and since I had a bunch of extra aguaymanto sprouts I thought I would give it a shot-

Here are 2 of them-





Has anyone ever tried this before? any other interesting species to try in here?

Also anyone have any good greens recommendations other than arugula and mizuna?

Hey All-

I finally had a chance to go check things out in Texas and repair the irrigation system etc.

While I was heartbroken to see so many plants die I was glad that I had put the Tropical stuff down in key west, and given my Garcinia collection to NissanVersa who was able to take care of them.

What is probably of most interest to the zone pushers on here is what survived though!



Salpichroa origanifolia - "Cock’s Eggs” sourced from huertasurbanas
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>





Eugenia myrcianthes “Ubajai” sourced from sacredsucculents
Myrtaceae. Small willow-like tree to 15-25′. Pendulous branches, simple glossy leaves, pubescent when young. White flowers and apricot size edible fruit. The flavor of the fruit is excellent when still pale yellow but becomes insipid upon turning a dark yellow/orange. Native to the Rio Plata region, Brazil. Easy to grow ornamental/edible, mature trees tolerant of mild frost. Z9b
Text Sourced from sacredsucculents.com




Acanthosyris spinescens - “Sombra de touro” sourced from huertasurbanas
Sombra de touro is a thorny, deciduous tree with a low crown; it can grow 3 - 6 metres tall. The short, crooked bole can be 20 - 30cm in diameter
The edible fruit is gathered from the wild and consumed locally, though it is not widely appreciated The plant also has local medicinal uses.
The thin-skinned fruit has a very succulent pulp with a sweet, pleasant flavour. The fruits are about 3cm in diameter
A decoction of the leaves is used as a treatment for high fevers The leaves are used externally to dress ulcers






Eugenia pyriformis - “Uvaia” sourced from huertasurbanas
Uvaia is an evergreen shrub or tree with a small, open crown; it can grow 5 - 15 metres tall. The erect bole can be 30 - 50cm in diameter. The edible fruits are greatly appreciated in Brazil, where the plant is widely cultivated in home gardens and orchards, both for its fruit and as an ornamental tree. The fruit is edible. A pleasant aroma with a sweet but insipid flavour. The fruits have a thick, very succulent pulp with a sweet or acid flavour according to variety. It is eaten fresh, made into juices, jellies etc. The yellow, aromatic fruit varies in shape from globose to pear-shaped, and in size from 4cm in diameter to 8cm long by 6cm wide. A plant of drier areas in the tropics and subtropics, where it is found at elevations from 300 - 1,500 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 26°c, but can tolerate 15 - 30°c. Plants are tolerant of occasional light frosts. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 450 - 600mm, but tolerates 300 - 800mm. Succeeds in full sun or part day shade. Adaptable to a range of soil types, but intolerant of alkaline soils. Prefers a well-drained soil. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7, tolerating 5 - 8. Prefers high levels of organic matter in the soil. Established plants are drought tolerant. A slow-growing plant, rarely reaching 2 metres tall after 2 years. Seedling plants can start producing fruit when 3 - 4 years old.
Text sourced from Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2021-10-26. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Eugenia+pyriformis>




Myrcianthes fragrans - "Twinberry, Simpson's Stopper" forgot where I got it
A short bushy tree usually growing no higher than 15-20 feet. It is easily trained into a short hedge as well. Evergreen, features attractive white blooms that may occur at almost any time of year in warm climates. The pretty blooms have a wonderful scent reminiscent of gardenia. Blooms are followed by small berry-fruits which ripen to an orange-red. The blooms are quite popular with butterflies and the fruits attract birds. In addition, Simpson's Stopper also has smooth, red-brown colored bark (similar to the guava), adding to its ornamental appearance. Hardy to 25F. Attractive bush or small tree native to Florida and the Caribbean. Bears a small, orange-red, edible berry-fruit having a mild, citrus-like flavor. Simpson's Stopper is commonly planted as a hedge in much of South Florida, usually seen in urban settings where controlled hedging is needed. Despite sometimes being found planted in mundane locations, the plant is a beautiful United States native that can make a wonderful ornamental in the garden.

Text sourced from tradewindsfruit.com




Myrcianthes pungens - “Guabiyu” Pretty sure from NissanVersa
Guabiyu is a semi-deciduous tree with a large, rounded, dense crown; it can grow from 12 - 20 metres tall. The bole, which is normally crooked and gnarled, can be 40 - 60cm in diameter.
The tree is widely cultivated for its edible fruit within the plants native range. It is also used medicinally, the timber is harvested from wild trees and the plant is grown as an ornamental. Fruit - raw. A succulent, juicy pulp with a sweet, pleasant flavour. The dark purple, globose fruit is up to 25mm in diameter. A plant of tropical and subtropical areas, mainly at higher elevations up to 2,200 metres in the tropics. Prefers a position in dappled shade.
Text sourced from Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2021-09-13. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Myrcianthes+pungens>




Celtis ehrenbergiana - “Tala” sourced from huertasurbanas
Celtis ehrenbergiana is a semi-evergreen shrub or small tree with a more or less pyramidal crown; it can grow 4 - 7 metres tall. The irregular bole can be 20 - 30cm in diameter.
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use of its edible fruit, medicinal properties and dyestuff. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental. Fruit. A succulent pulp, but there is not much of it. The oval, orange-yellow fruits are about the size of a pea. Edible and sweet. Astringent. An infusion of the leaves is used in the treatment of indigestion. A plant of the subtropics and tropics, found at elevations between 300 - 1,700 metres in the tropics. Prefers a sunny position. It is apparently tolerant of a wide range of soil and moisture conditions. A fast-growing tree.
Text sourced from Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2021-09-15. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Celtis+ehrenbergiana>




Uvaria rufa sourced from Elopez
Uvaria rufa is a woody, climbing shrub with stems up to 5 metres long.The edible fruits are much esteemed locally, being commonly harvested from the wild and also sold in local markets. Fruit - raw. The orange-yellow fruits have a granular, sweetish flesh. An alcoholic tincture of the roots is used as an oxytocic. The bark has been shown to contain alkaloids. Sparsely forested slopes at elevations from 400 - 1,700 metres in southern China. Lowland forest in Malaysia.
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2023-02-18. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Uvaria+rufa>



Eugenia spp. cv. “Sweet”

Small purple sweet fruits. It has beautiful multicolored bark. Growing on edge of creek at high elevation. Frost hardy. Plant reaches 9 feet max. Collected in south brazil. Text and plant from Brian Laufer

Things that survived but I didn't take pictures of-
Bananas, Pomegranates, Figs, Blackberries, Grapes, Peaches, Persimmons, Loquats, Feijoa,

Lycium andersonii  “Desert Goji/Wolfberry” Sourced from Sacredsucculents
Solanaceae. Densley branched thorned shrub to 3–6’+.  Semi-succulent leaves. Yellow/lavender tubular flowers followed by small round edible berries. Seed from Baja. Drought deciduous. Heat, drought and sun tolerant. A good choice for the arid edible landscape. The berries are rich in beneficial phytonutrients. Z9b/10a?   


Rosa roxburghii  “Cili” “Sweet Chestnut Rose” sourced from sacredsucculents
Stout shrub 4–8′ tall. Thorned branches, long pinnate leaves. 2″+ pale pink to purple-pink flowers, sweetly scented. Unusual orange-yellow fruit blushing red, globose to 1.5″+ and covered in small prickles. Native to southwest China. The fruit can be eaten fresh with a mild pineaple-like flavor. Traditionally made into a jam and wine, the dried fruit is brewed into a sweet tea that is said to strengthen all faculties and enhance longevity. The leaves are used as a green tea substitute. The fruit is rich in minerals, vitamin C and E, beneficial polyphenols, polysaccharides and SOD. Studies have shown the fruit is a strong antioxidant with anticancer potential, cardiovascular benefits and cognitive enhancement. Easy to grow, sun to part shade, rich, moist soil. We offer seed grown plants from strains selected for their darker fruit color and medicinal value. Z6a

I'll update the post as things bounce back, now that they are getting warmth and water again I am hoping that things looked worse than they were

Hey All-

I am getting dangerously close to post 1000 and I want to go a giveaway in appreciation of all the knowledge and friends I have gained through the board-

I'll be giving away one sprouted Asimina campechianus- I'll pay shipping as well

from Raul's description-

I got some seeds of this Paw paw tropical relative wonder if can be used toward Asimina triloba for creating a tropical Paw paw, I was told Sapranthus fruit is good eating sweet fruit.

The person with the closest guess to the time and date to when I make my 1000th post will win- an example entry would be

2/7 4:15pm


I am (with this post) at 969 posts which makes me 31 posts away from 1000 and I (apparently) make roughly 1 post a day for those who want to try to gauge it.

Also the making of this post will not affect my posting rate, and I will only edit this original post with updates to answer any questions

Good Luck All!

The seedling in question


And a picture of the fruit from Raul



As Mango Stein Pointed out I didnt make a deadline-

In the interest of keeping the "prediction" part fair everyone must enter by Sunday

Hey All-

Part 2 of the california cold update a reminder of the coldest dip so far from my precious post

A major difference in my treatment from last year is I actually stopped watering about a week before the cold snap hit in both places-

I left the thermometer out in CA and recorded a dip to 29*F here this year, it was very short and surrounded by several 40*F days, so take these observations with a grain of salt.

These plants were active selection experiments to see what would survive-






Chrysophyllum caimito-



10/11 of these died- this one is holding on though!


Eugenia arrabidae-





2/3 of these survived- it looks like they are also cold tolerant

Eugenia involucrata "Orange"-





These are from marcos and recently listed for sale again- looks to be quite cold tolerant 2/2

Eugenia pyriformis-



again I think the burn is from overwatering

Eugenia squamiflora-




Pretty sure the burns on this one are from overwatering not the cold

Plinia inflata-





Reports of cold tolerance of this species may be true- both plants are looking okay right now

Hey All-

Another winter and I thought I would write up another report of what seems to have done well with the cold. I brought a few of my favorite selections with me to the Bay Area that I will cover here- Unfortunately Texas got down to 18*F this year (something usually unheard of but for the second time in 3 years) and will do a separate write-up about what seems to have done well there (teaser is Myrcianthes fragrans was untouched)

A major difference in my treatment from last year is I actually stopped watering about a week before the cold snap hit in both places-

I left the thermometer out in CA and recorded a dip to 29*F here this year, it was very short and surrounded by several 40*F days, so take these observations with a grain of salt.

First up, Afromamum angustifolium-


Surprised by this one but it is pretty mature and again was dry

Adansonia gregorii-



Got whacked a bit but looks like it should bounce back-

Diospyros spp. -



Very little known about this species other than that it came from Forest House Cameroon

Saba senegalensis-



A lot of these got sold during the fundraiser for Andreas- happy to see they are a bit cold tolerant, the fruit is supposed to be good and hopefully a few people on here have it

Paullinia pinnata-



I have no idea why this species appears to be cold tolerant- I accidentally left it out during the freeze in Texas and after defoliation it came back

Rheedia aristata-



The cuban mangosteen is proving to be one of the hardiest of the genus, I hope the fruit it good but it is a pretty plant, and could be useful for grafting if nothing else-

Unknown-



This is an unknown species from the fruit and spice park-

Psidium spp.-



This is one of the guava species from member Andres Pires- I think it was amarela or goiba roxa but the label got lost

Myrciaria glazoviana-



Didn't even blink

Eugenia neonitida-



I have a few of these because I really like the fruit, some did worse than others, but it looks like after you expose them once they take the cold better

Multigrafted Plinia-



All the grafts seem to have held

Myrciaria guaquiea-



This thing is beast, another where i hope the fruit is good, ever since putting it on the fertilizer recommendation from achetadomestica it has really taken off

Hey All-

Apologies if this is a repost or common knowledge, but based on a quick search I didn't see anything with this info on it-

Pouteria are a great tasting genus of fruits (in my opinion) that often really shine when used in recipes like milkshakes, ice creams, or pies. Growing Pouteria seems to be gaining some popularity on the board so I thought I would share this bit of info on the germination of most (if not all) Pouteria species.

You need to crack the outer shell to release the endosperm and embryo- there is a chance that seeds can do this on their own for germination but I have performed some tests on Pouteria lucuma and found the cracking and removal of the seed coat to be beneficial.

I recently got some Ross Sapote seed from palologrower and thought it would be a good opportunity to demonstrate pictographically-





You have to use some force to whack them (I usually use the back of a spoon or something) but be careful not to damage the endosperm very much-

Hey all-

this website is an amazing resource that many of us use but I am not sure how many people are aware that it is run by a small husband and wife team- the Ferns

Is it down for everyone or just me? I would hate to see this resource lost, but even when trying to navigate to the donation page it seems to be down

Hey All,

When back in Houston recently, I obviously took a stroll of the garden and to my great delight I saw some blooms on the Eugenia stipitata- Araca Boi

This is the second year with flowers, about a 4 year old plant and it bloomed last year but didn't hold anything-







I know through conversation with NissanVersa I know that there are at least two different varietals of this species- and at one point I had both but the wider leaf varietal appears to be less cold tolerant, and didn't make it through the winter.

I had heard that they fruit much better with multiple plants but other than this one I only have seedlings now-

Hey gang-

while perusing my selected plants in California I came across some new (what I think are) first flowers!

the genus Macleania is not often discussed here but this is the info I have on the plant sourced from sacredsucculents.com

Macleania smithiana HBG89922 cl. F  “Femu-piu-tape”
Ericaceae. Evergreen shrub to 6’. Forms a large caudiciform lignotuber with age. Dark green to bluish-gray leaves, ovate to elliptical. Clusters of tubular flowers pinkish to red in color, white edible berries. One of the more tropical species from the wet forests of Panama, Columbia and Ecuador. Used for snakebite. More tolerant of heat and less tolerant of cold than others. Rooted cutting. Z10a/b

It is a beautiful plant with red new growth-



And I think these are the flowers?