Looks like I'll be able to taste my very 1st Myrica Rubra fruit this year. After 2years from when I got it. the tree has produced it's 1st crop for me. It's been in the greenhouse most of it's life with me. It does fine in the unheated greenhouse during the winter and seems to be an early crop fruit. This photo was taken today 6/24/21.
The taste of it reminds of like a pickled gooseberry plum. It has a tart flavor with a slight bit of that pickled fruit taste. Which is very popular in the Asian snack industry. It might not be for everyone though. I do like it.
I've been chasing this plant for some time now. So I was happy to get one early march after 3yrs of searching for one. It was sourced from a private grower and I was fortunate enough to be wait list customer #1!
I've tried growing it from seed. Which has failed multiple times.
Although, I did accidentally manage to grow a couple plants this year from seed.
Here's the plant that I purchased now in August. It's grafted with a male on a female rootstock so it should be self fertile. I have I've been babying the heck out of this thing and it's taking off.
After about 4 years and hundreds of failed attempts at growing the seed. I've finally managed to get a Myrica Rubra plant. This one has a male graft on to a female plant so it's ready to go all in one. I'm super excited can you tell?
After a 4 months and about 100 seeds I have 1 successful sprout of Myrica Rubra. I'm excited but also somewhat not too hopeful since you need a male and female plant to successfully produce fruit with this plant.
Myrica Rubra seeds are notorious for losing viability soon after leaving the fruit. So the germination rates are extremely low.
I have a cup over the new seedling to maintain the same humidity as the bag it sprouted from. The cup next to it is a Noni plant. The cups have holes in them to keep it from getting too humid.
After about 2 weeks in its new pot.
9/10/16 A second Spout!
Update 1/15/17:
For some strange reason both my Myrica Rubra Sprouts have browned and died.
The Myrica Rubra aka the Bayberry Tree is an interesting looking fruit from China.
The Chinese have been growing this attractive subtropical tree for 2,000 yrs. The fruit is about 1 inch in diameter, with a round, knobby surface that varies form red to purple. The biggest cultivar, DongKui, may get much bigger than that, up to 52 grams in weight. The pulp is similar in color with a sweet and tart flavor. Each fruit has a single seed is about 10% of the fruit much like a cherry. The Chinese have been using the seeds, leaves and roots for medicinal purposes for centuries. The bark has also been used as a yellow dye. The fruit can also be canned, dried, juiced and made into wine. Also known as Yumberry. This fruit has seen a dramatic increase in popularity over the last decade especially in Australia.
From my research this plant is somewhat difficult to grow and ship. Which makes me want it even more. The harder or more rare a fruit is the more I want it.
There's mixed reviews on whether they need cold stratification or if they will germinate with just bottom heat. There have been a small handful of growers in California that have successfullly germinated and grown the plant.
It requires a somewhat lower PH Soil and is best planted in September so it can be naturally cold stratified and will hopefully sprout in the coming spring.
The fruit reminds me of our strawberry tree arbutus unedo but it's actually in it's own category of fruits. Arbutus can be a bit gritty and are no better than the fruiting dogwood Kousa.
Myrica rubra appears to be a superb tasting fruit you can tell by how much love and care they get from the folks involved their cultivation in China.
I've managed to get some seeds and will split the seeds in half. One half I will try to germinate right away and will stay in my warm house, while the other I will stick into some most coco coir and will live in my fridge for a couple of months to cold stratify.
Stay tuned.
Update: 8/8/16 We have a single sprout from about 50 seeds! Almost 3 months to germinate. Hopefully a few others will follow suite and germinate as well. It's time to take the ones from the fridge out to see if they would grow as well.
