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Malaysian apple

Syzygium malaccense

Also called Mountain Apple, Malay Apple, Otaheite Apple, Pink Satin Ash, Pomerac, Rose Apple

In Singapore: Jambu Bol, Malay Apple, Pomerac, Jambu Merah (Grown in Singapore)

Malaysian apple
Photo: Crisco 1492, CC BY-SA 3.0

Malaysian apple is a medium to large tropical tree (5 to 15 m) grown for its glossy leaves, bright pink flowers and edible fruit. It needs warm, humid, rainy conditions and no frost.

Family
Myrtaceae (Myrtle family)
Grows as
Tree
Light
Full sun, Part shade
Water
Keep soil evenly moist, especially in dry spells, and avoid waterlogging.
Soil
Fertile, well-drained loam or sandy loam.
Temperature
Strictly tropical; comfortable above 18 °C; protect from any frost or freezing.
How easy
Moderate
Safety
Not known to be toxic
Edible
Yes, some parts
Native range
Indo-China to Vanuatu
Climate
wet tropical

About

Syzygium malaccense is a species of flowering tree native to tropical Asia and Australia. It was cultivated from prehistoric times by the Austronesian peoples and introduced deliberately to remote Oceania as canoe plants. In modern times, it has been introduced throughout the tropics, including the Caribbean. The ripe fruit is edible but with little flavor.

How to grow it

The combination of tree, flowers and fruit has been praised as the most beautiful of its genus.

Malay apple is a strictly tropical tree and will be damaged by freezing temperatures. It thrives in humid climates with an annual rainfall of 152 cm (60 in) or more. It can grow at altitudes from sea level up to 2,740 m (8,990 ft). It flowers in early summer, bearing fruit three months afterward.

Uses

The mountain apple is an edible fruit that can be consumed when raw and ripe. Its taste is bland but refreshing. In 1793, Captain William Bligh was commissioned to procure edible fruits from the Pacific Islands for Jamaica, including this species. He brought back this from Tahiti (called Otaheite at the time).

Other Syzygium plants

Syzygium glaucum · Anise Myrtle · Syzygium antisepticum · Watery roseapple · Clove · Scrub cherry · Boxleaf Eugenia · Syzygium cerasiforme · Syzygium conglomeratum · Bumpy satinash · Java plum · Weeping Myrtle

[Contains information from Leaf Area Index (LAI) and Heritage Trees from data.gov.sg (National Parks Board), made available under the terms of the Singapore Open Data Licence version 1.0]

Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Syzygium malaccense by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.

The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.

Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.

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