The Jabuticaba is a tropical shrub to tree native to Brazil and Bolivia. It is most recognizable by the large, spherical, dark purple fruits that grow directly from its trunk. These fruits are often found in Brazilian markets and are delicious raw or cooked. This plant grows best in full sun to part shade and rich, moist, well-drained soil. While it cannot tolerate frost well, it can be grown as a container plant or as bonsai to bring inside when winter temperatures dip too low. While coastal areas tend to warmer, it does not like salt spray.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
3 feet-6 feet; 6-feet-12 feet; 12-24 feet
Growth rate
Slow
Canopy layer
2 - Understory
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Broad; Dense; Multi-stemmed; Rounded
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
1-4 inch opposite, elliptical leaves that grow in a dense canopy.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; White
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
White-yellow flowers grow along the trunk and braches, commonly in groups of four.
Fruit color
Black; Purple/Lavender
Fruit value
Edible; Showy
Fruit size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Fruit detail
Round, thick-skinned, grape-like fruits with sweet white flesh. Like the flowers, the fruits grow along the trunk and branches. Fruits 5-6 times a year in optimal conditions and fruit best with cross-pollination.
Bark color
Light Brown; Red/Burgundy
Bark detail
Patchy red and beige bark that provides visual interest.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Cream/Tan
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Brazil and Bolivia
Play value
Edible fruit
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit
Edibility
Fruits are sweet and gelatinous, much like a muscadine grape, and edible raw or cooked.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Small Space
Garden tags
#bonsai #houseplant #evergreen shrub #showy fruits #evergreen tree #tropical tree #shrub #tropical shrub #container plant #interesting bark