“'The green varieties are supposed to be sweeter.' Rose apple trial.”
Background
Rose apple (Syzygium jambos, also called pomarosa or Malabar plum) is native to Southeast Asia and a member of the myrtle family; the fruit is named for its rose-like fragrance. Ripe fruit may be greenish or dull yellow flushed with pink, and green-fruited types are reputed to be sweeter, matching Matt's note. It has been grown in Florida since the 1800s but never became a major commercial fruit.
Distinguishing traits
Round to ovoid fruit 1-2 inches wide with smooth thin skin and crisp, juicy, sweet rose-scented yellowish flesh; seeds rattle inside a hollow cavity when ripe. Highly ornamental evergreen shrub or small tree to about 20 ft with glossy lance-shaped leaves and large showy white brush-like flowers.
Desert care — zone 9b
- Chill hours
- None.
- Cold hardiness
- Hardy to about 25°F (zone 9b); mature trees may take brief dips lower. Protect from hard freezes.
- Heat tolerance
- Tolerates heat but prefers humidity; in dry desert heat give afternoon shade, mulch, and regular water to prevent stress.
- Water
- Likes consistent moisture; tolerates poor drainage and brief flooding better than most fruit trees. Drought-tolerant when mature but fruits best with regular water.
- Soil
- Very adaptable; tolerates a wide range of soils, pH 5.0-8.0.
- Sun exposure
- Full sun to part shade.