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