Tropical Fruit Trees
CategoryTropical Fruit Trees for Oz hotter backyards
Tropical fruit Trees or the 'exotics' grow naturally in lush forests where they are protected from cold winds and they thrive in warm and humid conditions. Growing conditions in home gardens vary substantially and will often determine the type of trees you can grow. Winter cold (chill factor), summer warmth (humidity and temperature) and the length of the frost-free season need to be considered. Many tropical fruits can be grown outside their ideal climate. We are constantly amazed by the fabulous home-orcharding success stories we hear from around Australia.
Achiote - Bixa
$17.90 ($4.95-$17.90 choose a size)
Also known as annatto or the Lipstick tree, originates from South America and has spread in popularity to many parts of Asia. It is very popular in Philippine cooking. Grows and a dense small tree or shrub. The heart shaped fruits are brown or reddish brown at maturity, and are covered with short stiff hairs. When fully mature the fruits split open exposing the numerous dark red seeds. While the fruit itself is not edible, the orange-red pulp that covers the seed is used as a commercial food colouring and dye (similar to turmeric). The achiote dye is prepared by stirring the seeds in water, and is popular in South America and Asia to colour rice, desserts, butter, cheese, and many other foods. In the Philippine Islands the seeds are ground and used as a condiment. Tree is extremely beautiful in full flowering and fruiting. Can be grown in a container, prefers a frost-free climate.
Papaya - Broad Leaf
$17.75 ($17.75-$19.75 choose a size)
Self pollinating variety with large striking foliage. Produces large, elongated red fruit with great flavour. Needs a warm frost free climate to thrive.
Palm - Salak
$19.75 ($19.75-$19.90 choose a size)
Also called the snake fruit due to the beautiful pattern on the fruit, this is a tropical palm from Bali in Indonesia. The brittle thin skin is removed to reveal yellow/white flesh which has flavours reminiscent of Granny Smith apple, strawberry and pineapple. The small palm is very prickly, it has a tendency to blow over in strong tropical storms where it re-roots itself, so it can move from the place it was originally planted Suited to tropical areas only.
Lakoocha or Monkey Jack
$23.90 ($23.90-$29.00 choose a size)
Also known as monkey jack or lakuchi in India; tampang and other similar native names in Malaya; as lokhat in Thailand. The deciduous tree is 6-9 m tall, the large, leathery leaves, downy on the underside. Male and female flowers are borne on the same tree, the former orange-yellow, the latter reddish. The fruits are nearly round or irregular, 2 to 5 in (5-12.5 cm) wide, velvety, dull-yellow tinged with pink, with sweet sour pulp which is occasionally eaten raw but mostly made into curries or chutney. The male flower spike, acid and astringent, is pickled.
Giant Lau Lau
$29.90
This tree is scattered everywhere across the Pacific. Very popular in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. The giant long glossy leaves make it a spectacular feature before you even spot the fruit. The stunning fruit is bright red and crisp apple like flavour, although some can be a little insipid. If you have some space in a frost free garden this tree will be a treasure. Even though tropical it grows and fruits well in the North Coast NSW. With adequate water it grows at a rapid rate reaching up to 6-7m
Pandanus - Edible
$34.95 ($24.90-$34.95 choose a size)
Widely cultivated for use in Asian cooking and basket making. It has a nutty fragrance and is most commonly used in rice dishes or tied in a bundle and cooked with food. Also useful in flower arrangements. A low growing plant to 1m with long narrow blade like leaves and woody aerial roots. In tropical climates it can be grown as a marginal plant in dams and ponds, used as a bedding plant in tropical landscaping. Allow the plant to dry out over the winter months.
Poshte
$29.90 ($17.90-$29.90 choose a size)
This round fruit, although relatively little known has a rich aromatic and delicious flavour. The fruit is the size of an orange and has a dull green surface with perfectly textured pulp. The tough skin allows it to be handled easily and makes it resistant to insect attack. The seeds separate easily from the luscious perfectly textured pulp.
Abiu
$27.00 ($24.00-$79.00 choose a size)
The abiu is a smooth, brilliant yellow fruit with sweet translucent flesh. It's delicious flavour is reminiscent of creme caramel and it is sometimes used to flavour ice cream and make other desserts. The fruit is considered a delicacy for those who can grow it successfully, and it thrives in warm subtropical and tropical conditions.It is native to South America and can be found growing wild throughout much of Amazonia. In Brazil the pulp from the plant is used medicinally, to relieve coughs and bronchitis. Of course, most people love the fruit's flavour, which is enhanced when eaten slightly chilled. Cut in half and scoop out the flesh with a spoon and enjoy
Acerola - Florida Sweet
$34.95 ($17.90-$79.00 choose a size)
This bright red cherry like fruit has varying tastes during different stages as it ripens. When fully ripe the fruit is juicy and aromatic with its acid content giving it a sweet acid apple-like flavour. The tree can produce a number or crops each year, making for quite a long harvest season. Our selection is called the acerola Florida Sweet Cherry and is a pleasant eating variety that is not too sour. The acerola is well suited to pot culture where it can be kept to a smaller size. It could also be grown this way in cooler climates where it can be moved to a warmer position in the winter. A word of warning the foliage of the plant is covered in tiny irritating stinging hairs that can produce an allergic reaction. When pruning your trees wear a long sleeved shirt and a pair of gloves.
Achacha
$39.00 ($19.75-$97.00 choose a size)
A cousin of the mangosteen, Achachas are tangy and refreshing with a delicate subtle sweetness, a fine balance between sweetness and acidity, producing an unusual taste sensation. Fruit should be picked mature as it does not ripen further on storage. Originating from the Bolivian part of the Amazon basin in South America, the Bolivian name of the fruit is Achachairu and translated means honey kiss. Achacha is protected by Plant Breeders Right (PBR) and cannot be grown or propagated without licence agreement with Achacha Fruit Group
African Breadfruit
$29.90
Young fruits are cooked as a vegetable. The seeds from the mature fruit are ground into a meal known as breadfruit flour which can be made into bread, pasta and snacks. Dried seeds can be fried or roasted and eaten as a snack. The tree thrives in tropical and subtropical climates and is fast growing and much hardier than the breadfruit. The wood is used for furniture, firewood and can be processed into paper. It is native to riverbanks and waterways so can be used for erosion control and as a source of mulch. The sap of the male tree is caustic and toxic
Ambarella
$27.00 ($19.75-$27.00 choose a size)
Despite being tropical the ambarella has proven to be quite hardy and are very fast to become established in the subtropics and fruit set begins after only three years. Tastes like a mix between pineapple and mango but with a crunchy texture. The part nearer to the peel is quite sour getting sweeter near the seed. The ripe fruit is also much sweeter than the less mature green fruit. In Indonesia, they are steamed and eaten as a vegetable with salted fish and rice and in Sri Lanka the raw fruit is mostly eaten fresh and cooked as a curry with chilli. As they mature the skin turns golden-yellow with an orange-yellow pulp surrounding a single large spiny seed. When ripe they have a pleasant pineapple-like fragrance. Growing conditions Like the Mango, the tree thrives in humid tropical and subtropical areas growing up to 2 metres in a single growing season. It grows on all types of soil as long as they are well drained. Trees are cold sensitive when small and should be protected from serious frost and strong wind. Trees do best in full sun, but will produce some fruit in light shade. As a large and vigorous tree they prefer not be planted underneath other large trees and unlike some mango varieties they are not too fussed on salt spray.
Amla
$27.00 ($17.90-$79.00 choose a size)
The Amla or Indian Gooseberry is a small leafy tree that grows throughout India and bears an edible fruit. Amla oil is extracted from its seeds and pulp. The amla fruit is often referred to as the "Indian Gooseberry" because of its edible, very tart taste. The pectin content makes it ideal for jam and chutneys. The tree begins to yield fruit from the third year onwards and the productivity levels are good. Amla oil is prepared from dried amla berries, which have been soaked in coconut oil for several days. This oil is one of the world's oldest natural hair conditioners.
Amla - Bundy
$34.00 ($19.75-$34.00 choose a size)
A vigorous plant that fruits quickly after planting. You also only need 1 plant to get fruit set. The Amla fruit is often referred to as the Indian Gooseberry because of its edible and tart flavour. Very good for jam making and Amla oil is prepared from dried amla berries, which have been soaked in coconut oil for several days. This is a cutting grown selection from the Bundaberg QLD Australia region.
Apple Cactus - Pink
$19.75
Pink fruiting selection. Also called the Peruvian apple, this is a night flowering, column cacti from South America. The flesh is soft, sweet and delicate in flavour, similar in taste and texture to Dragon Fruits. The plants will require free draining soil to thrive, and can be grown as a potted house plant, it is very attractive and drought tolerant. Pollination is beneficial, plant a pink fruiting selection for cross pollination, the nocturnal flowers are pollinated by moths or bats. Sold as cuttings ready to plant. Guide to planting Bare Root Cactus
Araza-boi
$29.90
The acidic fruit can be processed into juices, nectars, marmalades, ice-creams etc. with an exotic, refreshing taste. Araz produces fruit throughout the year, and provides 2-4 harvest per year due the short period between fruit set and harvesting which is approx 3 months. The araza is a shrub or small tree 3-12 m, with densely branched habit. The flaking bark has brown to reddish colour. Fruits are pale green turning to bright yellow when ripe with a thin, velvety skin enclosing a juicy, aromatic, acid, thick pulp enclosing usually 12 seeds.
Bakupari
$34.00 ($24.75-$34.00 choose a size)
Thick, orange coloured skin that is easily broken to reveal the white, sweet/sour, aromatic pulp that surrounds one to three seeds. Grows best in fertile soil with abundant moisture and will take 7-10 years to commence fruiting. Best enjoyed fresh or can be used in juices and jellies. The tree with its glossy green leaves and symmetrical shape is also a beautiful ornamental tree.
Betel Nut
$27.00 ($19.75-$27.00 choose a size)
This medium sized, graceful, tropical palm is also commonly called areca nut, this is not a true nut but the palm seed. The seed is separated from the outer layer of the fruit and may be used fresh, dried, boiled, baked, roasted or cured. They can be chewed in a similar way to chewing tobacco, producing a mildly euphoric and stimulating effect, and helping reduce tension. Betel nuts and betel quids are generally chewed for their psychoactive properties that help reduce tension, produce a feeling of well being and facilitate social interactions and strengthen social ties. Around 10 to 20% of the world's population chews betel nut in some form. This makes it the 4th most widely-used psychoactive substance,after nicotine, alcohol and caffeine.
Bilimbi
$19.75 ($19.75-$79.00 choose a size)
The fruit is crisp when unripe, turns from bright green to yellow-green, ivory or nearly white when ripe and falls to the ground. The skin is glossy, thin, soft and tender, and the green flesh is jelly-like, juicy and extremely acid. They are sometimes faintly five-angled with an acid pulp. The bilimbi is a close relative to the carambola however it is quite different in its appearance, manner of fruiting and uses. Originating and grown extensively in Indonesia it is also cultivated and semi-wild everywhere in the Philippines and is very common in , Ceylon, Burma, Thailand, Malaya and Singapore. The mature fruits have a crunchy watery flesh and resemble small cucumbers. They usually range from 5 to 8cm in length. The fruits are picked by hand, singly or in clusters. They need gentle handling because of the thin skin and cannot be kept for more than 4 to 5 days. The fruit is generally regarded as too acid for eating raw, but in Costa Rica, the green, uncooked fruits are prepared as a relish that is served with rice and beans. Sometimes it is an accompaniment for fish and meat. Ripe fruits are frequently added to curries in the Far East. Bilimbi is often used in place of mango to make chutney. To reduce acidity, it may be first pricked and soaked in water overnight, or soaked in salted water for a shorter time; then boiled with sugar to make a delicious jam. Half-ripe fruits are salted, set out in the sun, and pickled in brine. An attractive and medium sized tree the bilimbi displays attractive dark-red flowers that are produced in panicles from the trunk and older branches. A tropical species the bilimbi is more cold sensitive than the carambola especially when very young. It will be a challenge trying to grow outside the Tropics. It does best in rich, moist, but well-drained soil, it grows and fruits quite well on sand or limestone. No pests or diseases have been reported specifically for the bilimbi.
Bitter Bean
$19.75
Bears long, flat edible beans with bright green seeds the size and shape of plump almonds which have a rather peculiar smell, similar but stronger than that of the shiitake mushroom. When young the pods are flat because the seeds have not yet developed, and they hang like a bunch of slightly twisted ribbons, pale green, almost translucent. At this stage they may be eaten raw, fried or pickled. Young tender pods with undeveloped beans can be used whole in stir-fried dishes.
Black Pitanga-Jambo
$17.75 ($17.75-$17.75 choose a size)
A rare black skinned Eugenia native to Brazil. The small, cherry-like, edible fruits ripen to a deep red-black colour. This small, bushy shrub grows 3-4m and can handle the occasional light frost. It is an interesting rare plant to grow and a prolific fruiter.
Black Sapote - Tahiti
$79.00
A large fruited variety of the Black Sapote, an attractive and surprisingly tough tree. The 'Chocolate Pudding Fruit' are delicious when eaten as a desert with cream and a touch of Rum or vanilla
Borojo
$29.00
Originating in the wet tropics of Ecuador and Columbia, this small shade-tolerant tree produces a large, round fruit with a sweet, but also tangy and aromatic flavour. The texture is smooth and melting. The fruit can grow up to 1kg in weight, take up to a year to ripen, when it turns brown and falls off the tree. The flavour has been likened to a plum with vanilla overtones. They can be grown in full sun, but grow best in partial shade so are well suited to a food forest design. High rainfall and warm temperatures are required, the roots can not tolerate drying out. The trees are either male or female and this will be evident when it flowers.
Brunei Cherry
$24.90
Cherry sized fruit with a red to yellow skin and a juicy, slightly tart white pulp. Highly esteemed in Borneo. Small or medium sized tree a bit like the mangosteen in appearance. Eaten fresh out of hand or dried and used for flavoring other foods. Suited to tropical areas only.
Chempedak
$24.90 ($24.90-$29.00 choose a size)
The Chempedak is native to south east Asia where it grows into a large tree. The soft fruits are very sweet with some fiber and a fairly smooth skin. They are smaller, less acidic and less fibrous than the jakfruit. The strongly odored fruits smell like durians when ripe, however if the peel is removed this will remove most of the odor. They are tropical in their growing requirements needing a warm, moist position and deep fertile soil in the full sun . Fruits can be eaten fresh or used in desserts, the young unripe fruit can also be eaten as a vegetable and made into pickles. Seedling trees start bearing after 3-6 years, they flower in Spring and the fruit mature 3-6 months later. The wood from the tree is an excellent quality timberthat is as strong as teak and the tannins extracted from the heartwood produce a saffron coloured dye that is used to colour the robes of Buddhists.
Cherry of Rio Grande
$27.90
This beautiful small tree has very attractive dark glossy-green waxy leaves and very ornamental bark. The showy white flowers are followed by deep purple cherry sized fruit approximately 3 weeks from the time of flowering. The fruit is the most popular substitute in warmer climates for the traditional Prunus Cherry. The fruit has a sweet juicy cherry flavour eaten fresh or can be picked at maturity , frozen for later use or used in jellies, jams and juices. This compact tree is perfect for small back yard orchards as it is well suited to container growing, still producing an abundance of fruit even when kept as a potted bush. This is advantageous as the tree can then be easily netted during fruiting time as this tree is a favourite to the birds. The tree is highly ornamental requiring very little attention and pruning to keep it looking its best. It can also be used to make a hedge. The Brazillian tree, member of the Myrtaceae, can reach up to 10 metres in its tropical forest environment, but most often reaches a comfortable height of 4-5m. They are moderately fast, preferring frequent but small balanced nutrient application and regularly watering during flowering and fruit development although the tree itself, if not expecting fruit quality in the drier years is fairly drought tolerance. The tree can tolerate temperatures down to zero degrees.
Cupuassu
$24.90
Related to cacao, the cupuassu is popular in its native Brazil, but little known elsewhere. Unlike cacao, the pulp of the large-fruited cupuassu is used rather than the seeds. Pulp is processed into beverages and desserts. A form of chocolate and cocoa butter can be made from the seeds. Fruit is highly sought after and production is thus far limited to Brazil where demand greatly exceeds supply. Leaves are large and much like the cacao tree. Fruits are borne on the trunk and apexes of main branches. Strictly tropical Cupuassu prefers a very humid environment with little temperature variation throughout the year, and mean temperatures around 24C. Trees need lots of water for good growth.
Duguetia
$39.00
This very rare Annonaceae produces much sought after fruits with very sweet and creamy flesh. Sourced from the Amazon jungle these trees offer fruit growing enthusiasts the chance to grow something that is unique and keen growers can try their hand at selecting unique genotypes.
Durian
$29.00 ($29.00-$49.00 choose a size)
Some people regard the durian as having a pleasantly sweet fragrance and an irresistible flavour; others find the aroma overpowering and it is common for them to be banned from public transport. The spikey fruits need to be handled with care, but once open the true richness of this unique fruit can be appreciated. The flavour is rich and sweet, it can be described as having a hint of roasted sweet potato or onion flavours but the one thing that is certain about the durian is that it tends to grow on people. The more you eat it the more likely you are to fall in love with it. Durian trees have one or two flowering and fruiting periods per year. A typical durian tree can bear fruit after four or five years. The durian fruit can hang from any branch and matures roughly three months after pollination.Durians are very tropical and we only recommend them from areas north of Mackay in QLD.
Dwarf Chicle Muyo
$24.75
Dwarf tree with larger fruit than other lacmelleas. The sweet milky sap and pulp can be eaten or made into chewing gum. This is why it is called the chewing gum fruit. The tree is a Native to Ecuador.
Elephant apple
$19.90
Medium sized tree to 15m, attractive corrugated foliage. The knobbly fruits can be used in curries, jellies and jams. Highly ornamental fragrant flowers. Prefers a tropical location, marginal in the subtropics.
Fijian Longan
$23.90 ($23.90-$34.95 choose a size)
Also called the Island Lychee this is a large spreading tree reaching 20 - 30m. The round fruits have thin skin that can be green to red and in some cases almost black when they are fully ripe. The opaque flesh is juicy and sweet, it surrounds a single large seed. Fruiting occurs sporadically throughout the year with the main crop coming off in July - August. Suited to tropical areas only
Giant Yellow Mulberry
$34.95 ($29.90-$34.95 choose a size)
Commonly known as soup tree as the young leaves are used in a very popular soup in Nigeria. The female flowers are insignificant but are followed by large irregularly shaped yellow fruits, which are 10-15cm across and contain up to 15 large seeds, each enclosed in a polygonal segment. The flesh is edible raw and the seeds, which are about 1 cm long, are very nutritious, containing oil, proteins and sugars. They can be shelled and cooked in various ways. There is no mistaking this tree with its enormous leaves that reach 70cm in diameter, with 7-9 leaflets up to 50cm long and 25cm across.
Guabiyu
$19.75
Small fruit resembling a strawberry guava but with dark skin and orange coloured pulp. It has firm, sweet, slightly acidic flavored pulp. Medium to large sized tree.
Ice Cream Bean
$17.90
A large attractive tree with spreading branches and lovely white and yellow pompom type flowers. The pods look similar to a tamarind pod. Surrounding the inedible black seeds is a thick white juicy pulp that tastes very much like vanilla ice-cream. The tree has the added advantage of being nitrogen fixing and is a good choice as a fast growing shade tree.Weed Warning: This is an attractive fast growing legume tree native to Central and South America. Over the last 10 years it has gained popularity in Australia as a nitrogen fixing tree that produces large velvety pods filled with creamy sweet flesh. Its popularity has also generated concerns about its potential to spread, with the main area of concern in NSW from Taree to the Tweed region.
Imbe
$32.95
Originating in Africa, this tree bears a small plum like fruit bright orange in colour. A thin layer of acid-sweet, watery pulp surrounds the seed. The rather tender skin tends to prevent packing and shipping of the fruit, but it deserves to be more widely cultivated as a home fruit. Hardy to most conditions. Dark green leathery leaves and ornamental structure make it appealing as an interesting and edible landscape plant. Grows to a bush or small tree to 4-6 m. Imbes have good salt tollerance and are also wind tollerant.Trees are dioecious, so one of each a male and female are needed for pollination and fruit set.Plant a minimum of 3 seedlings to increase the chances of having one of each.Isolated female trees will set a few small fruit parthenocarpically but the quality and size is always better with a male pollinator.
Indian Almond Tree
$29.90 ($19.75-$29.90 choose a size)
Also known as the Sea Almond or Tropical Almond, it is common throughout SE Asia, growing wild as well as cultivated for its striking features and tasty nut. A deciduous tree it can shed its leaves twice a year. In Autumn the leaves turn into colours of red, copper, gold. This tree has a characteristic pagoda shape because it sends out a single stem from the top center. When the single stem reaches a good height, it sends out several horizontal branches. It can get very large reaching 30m in ideal conditions. The fruits are almond-shaped and green turning brown to purple when ripe. The fibrous shell surrounds an edible nut. This shell helps the fruit to float as the seed is dispersed by water. The nuts are edible, taste very much like almonds, although it can be a challenge to remove the flesh from the hard stone. The Sea Almond can be eaten raw. Oil extracted from the dried nuts is edible and used in cooking. Recommended for Tropical climates as it is cold sensitive, but is wind, salt and drought tolerant.
Jambolan Plum
$21.90 ($19.75-$40.95 choose a size)
Frost sensitive when young but once established is hardy to most conditions. It can tolerate strong winds and can be used as a windbreak tree. It can also tolerate prolonged flooding and dry periods. It is limited to fruit production in tropical regions in elevations from sea level to 600m above sea level. Given such conditions it fruits prolifically. The fruit can be eaten fresh or used in making Pies, Sauces, Jams and Juices. While native to India, Burma and Ceylon, it is now widespread across much of Asia and is also very popular in much of South America. Carries many common names including Java plum, Portuguese plum, Malabar plum, Black plum, Purple plum, Damson plum and Indian blackberry. It is a fast growing very attractive tree highly esteemed by Buddhists throughout Asia and often planted near Hindu temples. It naturalized across Hawaii and has some weed potential in tropical regions, due to seed dispersal by birds.
Kei Apple
$14.90 ($14.75-$14.90 choose a size)
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. Very 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.Weed Warning: This plant is not to be bought, sold, grown, carried or released into the environment in the Greater Sydney and North Coast regions of NSW due to the weed risk posed by this species. This is because it seeds freely and there are concerns regarding its weed potential. Consider this before planting all over Australia however do not buy this plant if forbidden in your region.
Kepel Apple
$29.00
Very rare and endangered tree from Southeast Asia. Fruit is borne on the lower trunk and has a coconut/mango flavour. Suited to tropical areas only.Ancient Indonesians believed that eating the fruit would cause body secretions to take on a perfume scent.
Kola Nut
$32.95 ($19.75-$32.95 choose a size)
The kola nut is a caffine-containing nut from an evergreen tree. The tree have yellow flowers with purple spots and star-shaped fruit. Inside the fruit about a dozen round or square seeds develop in a white seed pod. The nut's aroma is sweet and rose-like. The first taste is bitter, but it sweetens on chewing. The nut can be boiled to extract the cola. This tree reaches 25 meters in height and is grown from seed.
Langsat
$24.90
Meduim sized tree 10 - 15m. Fruits have thick yellow leathery skin surrounding sweet, slightly acidic flesh, the flavour has been compared to grapes or sweet grapefruit.Very tropical, not suited to areas with cool subtropical winters or temperate regions.
Lipote
$19.75
Native to the Philippines this highly ornamental tree fruits along its branches. The new growth is pinky purple and the fruits are dark purple - almost black and subacid.
Lucs Garcinia - Limoncillo
$46.95
Native to Mexico, Mexican Achachairu or Luc's Garcinia as it is called produces bright yellow fruit which are single seeded, typically as large as tennis balls, and have both a better pulp ratio and elegant subacid flavour that is considered superior to that of its much celebrated and close relatives, achacha and mangosteen. Slow growing, attractive tree with a spreading form and large leafed foliage that is waxy and deep emerald green. Cold tolerance slightly better than that of Achacha. A very exciting offering that is sure to become a standout in the Australian exotic fruit market.
Lucuma - Kona
$49.00 ($49.00-$79.00 choose a size)
Green fruit with bright yellow flesh. It is sweet and similar to a canistel but with an odd aftertaste. The fruits are round or oval and very popular in South America when they are dried and powdered. There are two types of lucuma, wet and dry. Wet like canistel can be eaten out of hand. Dry can not. Kona is a dry type. They can be blended into a delicious milkshake tasting of rum and raisin and caramel.
Madrono
$28.90 ($17.90-$49.00 choose a size)
Very attractive slow growing tree, with dark green leathery leaves. Native to wet forests of Central America.Oval shaped fruits are produced in summer reaching up to 5cm. The white pulp has a pleasant subacid aromatic flavour, but can be quite acid if harvested prematurely.Very ornamental making an excellent display potted plant. While the tree may not produce fruit in colder regions, the leaves are quite cold hardy and can tolerate winter conditions. May require protection from frosts when young. The tree hardy to most soil conditions and is not nutrient demanding. Featured in our newsletter
Mangosteen Purple
$44.00
Often referred to as the Queen of Fruits, tropical evergreen tree native to Asia, the fragrant edible flesh can be described as sweet and tangy, citrusy with peach flavor and texture. Suitable only for tropical climates or a warm greenhouse.
Maprang, Plum Mango
$29.00
A large tree to 18 m tall with a dense crown and straight trunk. The small cream flowers are followered by the elongated 10 cm long yellow fruits. The edible skin surrounds the sweet or sour orange to red flesh.Uses: Maprang fruits, especially the sweet varieties, are consumed fresh or eaten cooked in syrup. Entire immature fruits are chopped and used as an ingredient in the spicy condiment sambal, and are pickled to prepare asinan. Young leaves are also consumed in salads and eaten with sambal.
Marmelada
$24.90
A green fruit, similar in size and shape to the pomegranate. Its black pulp is said to resemble marmalade and quinces. Eaten fresh out of hand, or used to make jellies and sweets.
Matisia
$29.90
The Matisia is a fast growing tropical tree native to the lowland rainforests of Peru, Equador and adjacent areas of Brazil. In its native forest it can grow to 45m but in cultivation it reaches about 12m. Sometimes seen as a buttressed tree, it is semi-deciduous and has tiered stiff branches in whorls of five. The leaves are clustered in rosettes towards the ends of the branches. Attractive flowers that are either yellowish white or rose tinted are bourne along the lesser branches and trunk, these are followed by the fruits in late Summer and Autumn. The rind is thick, leathery, greenish brown and downy. The orange- yellow fibourous flesh is soft, juicy and sweet with a flavour reminiscent of pumpkin. This surrounds the 2-5 seeds. Fruits are picked when a light coloured halo appears around the calyx, they soften to ripe in 3-4 days. The matisia will grow best in hot, humid areas, it needs protection from cold and wind.
Popular in Category: Tropical Fruit Trees
Dwarf Mango - King Thai
$59.00
Equal if not better in flavour than the Bowen mango. A semi-dwarf tree making it ideal for backyards, it produced elongated fruits similar to the Nam Doc Mai. The fruits start out with green skin and ripen to yellow with pink-red blushed fruit. Compact, branching, slightly upright tree growing to 3-4m tall and 2-3m wide. Shows good resistance to anthracnose and black spot.
Achiote - Bixa
$17.90 ($4.95-$17.90 choose a size)
Also known as annatto or the Lipstick tree, originates from South America and has spread in popularity to many parts of Asia. It is very popular in Philippine cooking. Grows and a dense small tree or shrub. The heart shaped fruits are brown or reddish brown at maturity, and are covered with short stiff hairs. When fully mature the fruits split open exposing the numerous dark red seeds. While the fruit itself is not edible, the orange-red pulp that covers the seed is used as a commercial food colouring and dye (similar to turmeric). The achiote dye is prepared by stirring the seeds in water, and is popular in South America and Asia to colour rice, desserts, butter, cheese, and many other foods. In the Philippine Islands the seeds are ground and used as a condiment. Tree is extremely beautiful in full flowering and fruiting. Can be grown in a container, prefers a frost-free climate.
Banana - Red Dacca
$19.75
A red skinned variety which should have a deep maroon-red skin when ripe. Great eaten fresh but they can be baked, fried, dried and toasted. Red bananas have more beta carotene and vitamin C than yellow ones.
Papaya - Broad Leaf
$17.75 ($17.75-$19.75 choose a size)
Self pollinating variety with large striking foliage. Produces large, elongated red fruit with great flavour. Needs a warm frost free climate to thrive.
Dwarf Coconut Malay Gold
$79.00 ($49.00-$79.00 choose a size)
Produced bronze to red coloured fruit. Tapering trunk with a bulbous base. These high yielding precocious hybrid selections will grow outside of the tropics, in a warm and sheltered position. Worth trying in coastal locations as far south as Coffs Harbour. They will require free draining soil and are best planted deep with a deep organic mulch surrounding them.
