Another Tropical - Thai Wax Jambu

I'm such a sucker for tropical fruit. It's my white whale here in Seattle, I know our environment isn't made from tropicals but I love trying anyways.



This is my new Thai Wax Jambu.

(syzygium samarangense)
(AKA: Eugenia javanica)

It's a bell shaped mild tasting fruit that grows in Southeast Asia and other tropical climates.

This tropical tree can grow to a height of 16 to 50 feet (5-15m) depending upon temperature and weather conditions. Wax Jambu is native to Malaya and the Nicobar Islands where the trees grow in coastal rainforests. It is very common in Southeast Asia and, Thailand, Viet Nam, Taiwan, Zanzibar and India. It also grows well in central and South America.

Wax Jambu is ultra-tropical and cannot handle temperatures below 45 degrees, preferring temperatures above 65 degrees. Which means it comes inside for the winter. I've already made the mistake last year of killing my other tropicals in the greenhouse.

Soil must be fertile for good fruit production. Flowers appear in May and June in Florida and fruits ripen in July and August. If it fruits at all it would probably be later here in the Seattle area.

It is a heavy producer on good soils and can produce 500-700 fruit when 5 years old. The ripe, pink fruits are small (about 3/4 - 1" / 2- 2.5cm) long, sweet and can be eaten fresh or cooked, for sauces, jams and jellies. Green fruits are eaten raw with salt.

I'll keep you updated on this one to see if I can keep this one thriving here.