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Kei Apple
Native to southwest Africa, the Kei apple forms a very drought hardy and salt tolerant shrub or small tree. 
With its large thorns this dense shrub makes a perfect security fence. The plum sized golden fruit is aromatic, sweet and tastes very similar to an apricot but with a much higher juice content. They are an excellent plant to encourage bees as both honey bees and native bees love the flowers. Male and female trees are needed for pollination in order to set fruit, if planting seedling trees, plant three or more to increase the chances of having both male and female trees.
140mm pot | $9.90 AU | Seeking Propagation Material | 
| Height | Frost tol. | Pollination req'd | Evergreen/Deciduous | Harvest period |
| 2-5 | Hardy | Yes M&F | Evergreen | January - August |
We welcome your Tips on Kei Apple. Share Your Tip.
Slow growing away from the tropics but bullet proof once established. Tolerant of most soils. The thorns are incredibly long and sharp. The fruits are delicious and unusual. | David White - Newcastle, NSW 02-Jun-2006
Beautiful shrub very dark glossy foliage we have shaped ours into a ball, looks beautiful and the bees adore it, the fruit I have not tried but smells delicious and looks very similar to apricot. Thanks for all the information on this plant | Cheryl Artman - Gympie, QLD 23-Sep-2009
The fruits have a tart but unique flavour. Amazing jelly & try making a Kei apple meringue as apposed to a lemon meringue pie. | Jurie - Nairobi, KENYA 24-Sep-2011
Lovely jelle and easy to make | Marcia Nell - Leisure Bay, Port Edward Natal, S.A. 24-Jan-2012
Very bitter but nutritious. can make a delicious juice if mixed with a sweeter juice like mango or passion. | Geoffrey Kiguru - Nairobi, KENYA 16-Feb-2012
Weed Warning: Kei apple is an attractive thorny shrub very well suited to the subtropics. It has the potential to be an environmental weed in Australia, we recommend netting the shrub to reduce seed dispersal by birds. Pick up fallen fruit.
Updated: 9th of July, 2010 at 11:39am © Disclaimer/Privacy/Copyright