Tropical fruits: Rose apple

Rose apples got their name because these crispy fruits smell and taste like rose water. Here is some basic information and photos of rose apple.

Scientific name:	Syzygium jambos Alston
Synonyms:	Eugenia jambos L. , Jambosa jambos
Family:	Myrtaceae (myrtle family)
Order:	Myrtales
Common names:	Rose apple, Malabar plum, Plum rose, Malay apple, Wax apple
Origin:	South east Asia
Evergreen or deciduous:	Evergreen
Flowers:	A showy terminal inflorescence, usually with four whitish-green flowers on the outside of the crown
Leaves:	Leaves are long and glossy.
Fruits:	Fruits are about 5 cm long with a whitish-green color, but color variations exist including red skinned fruits. The skin is thin and waxy.
Climate and weather:	Requires a tropical or near tropical climate. Growth at altitudes up to 900 meter.
Height:	Growth as a shrub or as a medium sized tree. 7 to 12 meter
Type of soil:	Prefers deep loamy soil. But can tolerate sand or limestone with very little organic matter.
Spacing (close range)	8 meter
Spacing (wide range)	12 meter
Propagation:	Usually grown from seed.
Insect pests:	Few insect problems. Aphids.
Diseases:	Sometimes a sooty mold growing on honeydew excreted by aphids. Leaf spot. Anthracnose. Fusarium root rot.
Harvesting:	Pick by hand from the tree. Fruits should be used soon after picking because they spoil soon. Fruits ripen over an extended period of time.
Uses:	Eat the fruits fresh (the skin can be eaten too). Fruits are crisp with the taste (and smell) of rose water. Fruits are hollow, the core contains a small amount of inedible fluff.

Photos

Rose apples

Rose apples in Thai fruits market

No recipe yet. Please send me a message if you have a recipe that contains rose apple fruits