Fruit page format/Rose apple
Working copy: default fruit-page format
This is a working example of the compact standard format for fruit pages. It is based on the canonical Rose apple article, but keeps the default structure short and expandable. Empty or unsupported fields should be omitted rather than padded.
Rose apple (Syzygium jambos) is an evergreen tropical tree grown for its fragrant flowers and crisp, rose-scented fruit. The common name can also refer to other Syzygium species, so identification matters.
 | |
| Rose apple (Syzygium jambos) | |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Syzygium jambos (L.) Alston |
| Common names | Rose apple, Malabar plum, pomarrosa, jambu mawar |
| Genus | Syzygium |
| Family | Myrtaceae |
| Order | Myrtales |
| Growth form | Evergreen tree |
| Mature size | About 7.5–12 m in ground; smaller with pruning |
| Climate | Tropical to warm subtropical; USDA zones 9–11, with zone 9 marginal |
| Propagation | Fresh seed; air-layering for clonal plants |
| Germination | About 10–120 days from fresh seed |
| Years to fruit | About 3–4 years from seed under favorable conditions |
| Pollination | Generally self-fertile; insects visit the flowers |
| Fruit season | Varies by climate; often follows the wet season |
Identification and description
Syzygium jambos has opposite, lance-shaped leaves, often with a rosy flush of new growth. The large cream-colored flowers are made mostly of conspicuous stamens. The nearly round or slightly pear-shaped fruit is usually pale yellow to whitish, sometimes pink-blushed, with crisp flesh and a hollow center containing loose seeds. A rosewater-like scent is a useful clue.
It can be confused with wax apple (S. samarangense), Malay apple (S. malaccense), watery rose apple (S. aqueum), and other plants sold under the name rose apple.
Growing
Rose apple prefers warm, mostly frost-free conditions, regular moisture, and full sun once established. Young plants benefit from partial shade and should be transplanted while small because root disturbance can set them back. It tolerates a range of soils, including wet sites, but deep soil with reliable moisture is generally productive. Protect it from repeated freezes and direct salt spray.
Propagation
Fresh seed is the usual method. The seeds should not be allowed to dry and do not normally require stratification. Sow them shallowly in a moist medium and separate seedlings before their roots become crowded. Seedlings may be reasonably close to the parent, but superior fruiting plants are better preserved by air-layering or another clonal method.
Flowering, fruiting, and harvest
The species is generally self-fertile and is visited by bees and other insects. Flowering and harvest vary with climate; in tropical regions flowering may be seasonal or sporadic. Fruit commonly follows flowering within several weeks. Harvest at full color because the fruit bruises easily and has a short storage life.
Fruit and uses
The crisp, aromatic fruit is usually eaten fresh. It can also be made into jam, jelly, syrup, preserves, or desserts. The hollow fruit is light and delicate. Seeds and other plant parts have been reported as hazardous; use a reliable source before recommending medicinal or food use beyond the ripe flesh.
Photos
Commentary
Share practical experiences growing this plant on the dedicated discussion page:
Open the Rose apple grower commentary page
Useful topics include climate, germination, transplanting, container culture, flowering, fruit quality, pests, and unusual local selections. Please identify the plant, location or climate, propagation method, and date when reporting an observation.
Sources
- Morton: Rose Apple, Fruits of Warm Climates.
- Useful Tropical Plants: Syzygium jambos.
- Plants of the World Online, taxonomy and accepted-name reference.
Image credits
- Fruit: PMATAS, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Young leaves: Tonton Bernardo, CC BY-SA 3.0.
- Tree: Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0.
- Flowers: Ajtjohnsingh, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Fruit and seeds: JonRichfield, CC BY-SA 3.0.
