Jaboticaba
Plinia cauliflora
The fruit grows right out of the trunk.
Hardiness: zones 9 to 11
Light: full sun to part shade
Size: about 15 ft tall, 12 ft wide
Harvest: April to June
From: Brazil
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: food.
Native to: Atlantic Forest of Brazil. Hardy in zones 9 to 11.
The story
Jaboticaba grows wild in the Atlantic forest of Brazil, where the Tupi gathered it; the grape-like fruit sprouts straight from the trunk and bark, and the tree flowers several times a year. It is slow, and a Brazilian saying holds that you plant it for your grandchildren.
Planting
Full sun or part shade, rich, moist, slightly acid soil. Plant the largest tree you can afford; seedlings take 8 to 15 years to fruit.
Growing
Water steadily; it dislikes drought and salt. Mulch thickly and feed lightly. It is a beautiful small tree and needs no pruning.
Harvest and use
Fruit ripens about a month after each flowering; pick when black and glossy, and eat within days. The skin is tannic; the flesh tastes of grape and lychee.
What to watch for
Rust on leaves in wet weather and birds; otherwise little trouble.
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More tropical and subtropical food plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home