Gardening with Tropical Fruit

The Rose Apple (Syzygium jambos)

By Gene Joyner, Extension Agent
Palm Beach County Cooperative Extension Service

The rose apple (Syzygium jambos) is a medium sized evergreen tree native to the east Indies that can grow to 30 or 40 feet and is a prized ornamental tree as well as producing edible fruit. The leaves are glossy, leathery, up to 6 or 8 inches long and 2 inches wide and the new growth has a wine red color gradually turning to green as it matures. Abundant flowers are produced on the young branches in the early spring and it looks almost like a white powder puff tree.

Fruits mature quickly ripening a few weeks later and may be up to 2 inches in length and are round or egg shaped and typically white or pale yellow in color with a faint pink blush.
The fruit consists of a thin layer of pale yellowish flesh and a large hollow cavity containing one to three brown seeds. The flesh is rose scented, very crisp, juicy and sweet. It is eaten fresh, but also makes excellent jellies and jams with a pronounced rose flavor. Sometimes it is stewed or preserved in syrup as well.

Some years fruit fly damage can be severe on maturing fruit and also birds and other animals take their share as well. Usually though production is very heavy and there’s plenty for everyone.

Trees grow rapidly from seeds, but are 4 to 5 years to come into bearing. Selected or superior varieties may be propagated by budding for earlier fruiting. Trees grow well over a wide range of soil types, but young trees should be protected from cold weather and freezes. Trees often times can be planted in areas that are briefly flooded since they are quite water tolerant, however, they should not be planted in areas that have extended periods of standing water. Trees do not have high salt tolerance so avoid planting on exposed coastal areas and plant in sheltered or protected locations close to coastal exposures.