PATCH GROW
PLANT IT NOW
ooking for a tropical fruit tree with a bit of wow factor? How about jaboticaba? The purple-skinned, grape-like fruit hug the trunk and inner branches of the tree in an unusual and arresting fashion. It’s equally exciting in flower, with white, fluffy, honey-scented blooms that buzz with pollinating insects. It’s quite the show stopper! The botanical term for plants that flower and fruit in this way is cauliflory, and it
occurs in a handful of other plants that you may also have seen, including coffee, jackfruit, Davidson’s plum, pawpaw and coolamon (Syzygium moorei). The fruit form and mature very quickly after flowering, and in some cases, you can get three crops a year – this plant is incredibly prolific. Eaten fresh, the fruit are deliciously sweet and juicy, with a rich and fragrant flavour. They make a lovely jam, that, in my opinion, may even rival rosella! The tree itself has a lovely bushy habit with a full canopy of leaves (there are fine and large leaf forms), and being evergreen, it makes a useful screen and shade tree. The new leaves have a coppery tone, which is quite pleasing. Over time, the tree will naturally form a single trunk with an intricate branch structure, exposing lots of the tree’s attractive bark. It will eventually reach a height of 5–10m, but is easy to maintain at a smaller size with occasional pruning. The only frustrating thing you might find about this tree is that ut as ways s come it. The tor can
also offer an advantage: jaboticaba makes a fabulous fruiting tree for a big pot, where it will be happy for years.
planting & care
Jaboticaba is native to Brazil, so it grows best in tropical and subtropical zones. It’s also worth a try in warm temperate areas that are frost-free, although it will tolerate light frost once established. It likes a sunny position with well-drained soil. In cooler, marginal areas, give it a warm spot in front of a north-facing wall. Seed-grown plants can take eight years to bear fruit. If you can’t wait that long, buy a grafted tree, which will fruit much earlier. Before planting, add plenty of compost, and create a mound to improve drainage. Gently tease crowded roots, and plant so the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil. Water deeply and keep moist for the first two months, then water regularly in dry periods. Maintain a 5–10cm layer of mulch over the root zone to hold moisture in, and feed with organic fertiliser every six weeks from spring to autumn. Don’t worry about pests, as this tree is rarely troubled. GA
LOCKWISE FROM LEFT The purplish-black fruit is fragrant, sweet and juicy; branch lined with fluff y, white flowers; coppery new rowth on the large leaf form; the fruit grows closely ong the trunk and inner branches of the tree.
66 J A N U A R Y 2 02 2 G A R D E N I N G AU S T R A L I A
PHOTOS ISTOCK, SHUTTERSTOCK
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A good-looking tree with delicious fruit, jaboticaba is a winner, says PHIL DUDMAN
