(Jamaican) JUNE PLUM:
Spondias dulcis
AKA: Jamaican Jewish plum, Otaheite-apple, Jew Plum,
Golden Apple, Hog Plum, Hobo Plum or Jobo Plum;
close relative of the mango family
Damage temperature: 28F
Introduced to Jamaica in the late 1700's, probably from Hawaii; grown in Cuba, Caribbean Islands, Central America and Venezuela. Also found in Malaysia, India and Vietnam. Cultivated in Australia.
Growing Conditions
June Plum prefers a humid climate with ample rainfall, and will not fruit in areas with frost. It grows in all types of soil, including Florida's limestone, as long as it has good drainage.
An upright tree, June Plum is deciduous: leaves turn bright yellow in the fall, then drop off leaving the plant with bare stems for a few weeks.
Flowers are small, whitish, and appear in clusters with male, female and perfect in each cluster.
June Plum is rapid growing to 60' in Jamaica, but no more than 30-40' in most other areas. It can even be container grown and kept trimmed to a modest 8-10'.
It can bear fruit in 2-4 years from seed, even if only 2' tall. Can be propagated by seeds, cuttings, or air-layers.
7g June Plum aka Jobo Plum
7g trees are $85 when available: contact us for details
unripe June Plum showing center seed;
photo courtesy of wikipedia
Fruits
Fruits are about the size of an apple (2.5" to 3.5" long) with a pineapple-mango flavor and crunchy texture. In South Florida, the fruit ripens from fall to mid-winter.
The June Plum can be eaten at different stages of maturity. The skin is thick and is peeled and discarded.
If the fruit is harvested firm, it is green-skinned, crisp, juicy, and slightly acidic with a pineapple like fragrance and flavor. If allowed to ripen soft, the skin and flesh will turn golden yellow. Fruits in the South Sea Islands can weigh as much as one pound.
They have a single, sharp, rather large spiny seed.
Harvested firm, the June Plum makes a delicious fresh fruit, or can be juiced for cold smoothies. Stewed with water and sugar, it makes an interesting applesauce-like dessert. Cinnamon can be added to create an apple-butter-like preserve. Unripe fruits are also used for jelly, pickles, relishes or flavoring in soups.
fruits set on the Hobo Plum