Plinia sp. – Scarlet Jaboticaba (plant)

Description

Plinia is a genus of the Myrtaceae family. The purplish-black, white-pulped fruit grows directly on the trunk of the tree. It is eaten raw or used to make jellies, jams, juice or wine. The tree is native to the states of Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Goiás and São Paulo in Brazil. Scarlet Jaboticaba has been considered a hybrid of Plinia aureana x Plinia cauliflora, although the parentage has not been confirmed. The fruit is subglobose, a beautiful scarlet red colour, sweet and juicy.

Care and Cultivation of Plinia sp. ‘Scarlet Jaboticaba’

Scarlet Jaboticaba prefers moist, rich, lightly acidic soil. It is widely adaptable, however, and grows satisfactorily even on alkaline beach-sand type soils, so long as it is tended and irrigated. Its flowers are white and grow directly from its trunk in a cauliflorous habit. In its native habitat jaboticabas may flower and fruit 5-6 times throughout the year. Jaboticaba are tropical to subtropical plants and can tolerate mild, brief frosts, not below -3°C. The tree has a compact, fibrous root system that makes it suitable for growing in pots or transplanting. Evidently this hybrid grows to 2.5m tall and will fruit well in a pot.

1 seedling

NB. product photo is of our regular Jaboticaba