Family: Myrtaceae
Common names: Jaboticaba, Jabuticaba, Brazilian grapes, Brazilian grape tree, Jaboticaba tree
Jaboticaba is a unique and fascinating fruit tree that is grown as an ornamental and also for its delicious purple fruits. They are native to Brazil, but have now been introduced to many other countries in the tropical and subtropical weather.
Tree characteristics
Jaboticaba trees are quite small, growing to a height of about 12 to 15 m with a heavily branched stem, which has multiple small trunks even when the tree is small.
The stem has a smooth texture when the tree is small, becoming slightly rough as it matures. It is light brown or grey in color and can peel off in strips.
The stem of Jaboticaba is unique since the fruits grow directly on the stem, a phenomenon called cauliflory, thus giving the plant its name Plinia cauliflora. The branches can be dense and bushy giving the tree a beautifully rounded crown.
Leaves of the Jaboticaba tree are bright green, glossy with a smooth margin and a slightly leathery texture. They are 5 to 10 cm long and 2 to 4 cm wide. The thick crown of bright green leaves keeps the tree beautiful, even when it is not flowering or fruiting.
Flowers of the Jaboticaba grow directly on the trunk in small clusters. They are white in color, about 2 to 3 cm in diameter with a tuft of white stamens.
When these flowers grow in clusters all along the trunk, it looks like the tree has a major pest infestation.
The abundance of flowers can attract pollinating insects to the tree.
After pollination, the flowers produce small green fruits, which grows bigger and rounded and then turn purple on maturity.
These fruits grow in clusters, and are the size, shape, and color of purple grapes. Hence the tree is called a Brazilian grape tree. In Malayalam, the street is called Maramunthiri or ‘grapes on a tree‘, because of the grape-like purple fruits that grow directly on the trunk.
Each Jaboticaba fruit is 2-4 cm in diameter with a thin, smooth skin that turns dark purple to black when it’s ripe. Inside the fruit is a white or pink-colored pulp that is sweet and sour like grapes. This pulp contains several small seeds that are difficult to remove while eating.
The fruit is harvested after it ripens on the tree since they do not store for a long time. Though the skin of the fruit can be eaten, it has a lot of tannins, making it not very pleasant to eat.
The best method of eating is to squish the skin so that the pulp slides out. This pulp can be eaten as a whole without chewing, since the seeds make it difficult to chew.
Gardening tips
Jaboticaba trees prefer warm, tropical weather with high rainfall. They need well-draining, slightly acidic soil, but they’re capable of tolerating a variety of soil conditions. These trees need good sunlight for most part of the day, so make sure you plant them in a sunny location.
Regular watering is important when the tree is small and also during peak summer season. Prune periodically to remove dead and damaged branches, and also to keep the tree rounded and beautiful.
Fertilize just before the flowering season with a well-balanced, organic fertilizer that contains compost, cow manure, NPK, and bonemeal. These are slow-growing trees and patience is the key to growing a Jaboticaba tree in your garden.
Make sure the tree has enough space around it to grow since these trees take many years to reach maturity. Once the trees are established in the soil, they need very little care and attention, and it has multiple harvesting cycles, yielding an abundance of fruit
Uses of Jaboticaba
The fruits of Jaboticaba are eaten raw or made into tarts, jams, wines, and other beverages. The fruit begins to ferment 3 to 4 days after it is harvested making it ideal for producing wine.
The slow-growing nature of the tree can be a good characteristic in a bonsai tree, where they are kept in shallow pots and trimmed so that the tree remains small.
Jaboticaba fruit is rich in antioxidants and helps in promoting skin and hair health. They are also used in treating respiratory and digestive ailments.
In addition to its commercial value, the tree is also a good ornamental since it stays evergreen throughout the year with beautiful bright green foliage.
Propagation
Propagation is through seeds, grating, and stem cuttings.
Seed propagation is slower and mature seeds can germinate in a few weeks, but the tree takes 8 to 10 years to grow to maturity.
Stem cuttings taken from mature trees can take root quickly and produce trees that are similar in characteristics to the parent tree.
Grafting, where a small piece or scion of the desired tree is grafted onto a rootstock, is also a quick and efficient method of propagation.
Photographed at: Kings Flora Organic Farm Resort, Wayanad
