Brazilian Grapetree Plinia cauliflora
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Eugenia cauliflora
- Myrcia jaboticaba
- Myrciaria cauliflora
- Myrciaria jaboticaba
- Phonetic Spelling
- PLI-nee-ah kaw-lee-FLO-ra
- Description
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The Jabuticaba is a tropical shrub to tree native to Brazil and Bolivia. It is most recognizable by the large, spherical, dark purple fruits that grow directly from its trunk. These fruits are often found in Brazilian markets and are delicious raw or cooked.
This plant grows best in full sun to part shade and rich, moist, well-drained soil. While it cannot tolerate frost well, it can be grown as a container plant or as bonsai to bring inside when winter temperatures dip too low. While coastal areas tend to warmer, it does not like salt spray.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Bonsai Garden in Davidson County
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Plinia
- Species:
- cauliflora
- Family:
- Myrtaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Grafting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Brazil and Bolivia
- Play Value:
- Edible fruit
- Edibility:
- Fruits are sweet and gelatinous, much like a muscadine grape, and edible raw or cooked.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Houseplant
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Broad
- Dense
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Round, thick-skinned, grape-like fruits with sweet white flesh. Like the flowers, the fruits grow along the trunk and branches. Fruits 5-6 times a year in optimal conditions and fruit best with cross-pollination.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- White
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- White-yellow flowers grow along the trunk and braches, commonly in groups of four.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 1-4 inch opposite, elliptical leaves that grow in a dense canopy.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Bark Plate Shape:
- Irregular
- Bark Description:
- Patchy red and beige bark that provides visual interest.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Cream/Tan
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Small Space
