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 | $9.90 AU | In Production | 
| Height | Frost tol. | Pollination req'd | Evergreen/Deciduous | Harvest period |
| 2-5 | High | 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
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: 24th of November, 2008 at 2:31pm © Disclaimer/Privacy/Copyright