Family: Myrtaceae
Common names: Rose apple, Malabar plum, Moutain apple, Plum rose, Water apple, Wax apple, Pomarrosa, Jampu, Panineer champakka, Champakka
Rose apple is a beautiful evergreen tree that is grown as an ornamental and also for its sweet, crisp-tasting fruits that are very popular among children. They are native to Southeast Asia, but can now be seen in almost all tropical countries around the world.
Tree characteristics
Rose apples are small to medium-sized trees, growing to a height of 8 to 15 metres with thick, low-branching stems. The main trunk is dark brown and well-branched, giving the tree a rounded and bushy crown.
Leaves of the Rose Apple tree are lance-shaped, about 10-25 cm long, with a dark green and glossy finish. They have a leathery upper surface with smooth and entire margins.
The petiole that connects the leaf to the stem is very short, almost nonexistent. Leaves can have a reddish tinge when younger, growing light green, and eventually darker green when they mature.
Flowers of the Rose apple tree are very pretty, white or green colored pom-poms, with numerous tubular stamens.
These flowers are produced in large clusters, attracting a large number of pollinators during the blooming season. Each flower is 5 to 8 cm in diameter, with small and non-prominent petals.
Rose apple trees are mostly grown for their yummy fruits, which look similar to small guavas. These fruits are white or light green in color, with a thick glossy outer cover covering.
They taste very much like water apples with a mild rosewater flavor. The skin is quite thin and cannot be removed, they are eaten with the flesh of the Rose Apple.
The inside of the fruit is hollow containing one or two prominent brown fruits that are flattened on one side and convex on the other. These seeds are about 1 cm in diameter and can rattle inside when the fruit is shaken, which is a clear indication of whether the fruit is ripe.
The riper the fruit is the sweeter it tastes. They should be handled carefully as they can bruise easily, but they can be kept at room temperature for a few days.
Gardening Tips
Rose apple trees need good sunlight and should be planted 5 to 6 m away from each other and from other trees, so that there is enough space for the tree to grow. They need regular watering when the tree is small, but once it is established in the soil, the tree can fend for itself.
Fertilize just before the flowering and fruit season to enjoy an abundance of fruits. Pruning can be done when the tree is young to keep it rounded and bushy.
Apple trees are reasonably resistant to pests, and hence they do not need pesticide application.
Rose apple trees are very closely related to Syzygium samarangense or Wax Apple, both fruits very popular in Southeast Asian countries. The seeds are toxic, and should not be consumed by pets or humans.
Uses of Rose Apple
Rose Apple trees are mostly grown for their delicious fruits rich in Vitamin C, which can be eaten raw or cooked. They can be made into jams, jellies, and preserves. When added to puddings or custards, these fruits impart a distinct rosewater flavor to the desserts.
Flowers can also be eaten raw though they have a tart taste. Rose apples were initially grown in home gardens, and the fruits were not marketed commercially, though this has changed in recent times.
Parts of the plant are used to treat urinary disorders, fever, rheumatism, bronchitis, stomach, ailments, and epilepsy. The bark of the tree is used for dyeing and tanning since it can produce a brown dye.
The flexible branches are used for weaving baskets and making casks. Wood of the tree is not very strong and is used for making wooden stakes, small furniture, beams, packing cases, and frames for musical instruments.
Propagation
Propagation propagation is through seeds, budding, air layering, and grafting.
Seed propagation is quite effective, though the trees take much longer to grow and mature. Budding or grafting involves inserting a single bud or a piece of stem onto a rootstock to enable faster growth.
Air layering involves removing a small piece of outer bark from a thin trunk and covering it with peat moss. This area is kept covered and moist for a few months to enable the growth of the roots at that area.in
Photographed at: Thrissur, Kerala. Nandi hills area, Bangalore.
