SHERBET BERRY aka Phalsa / Falsa

Grewia subinaequalis syn Grewia asiatica

Native to India, Pakistan and Southeast Asia:   Sherbet Berry is an Indian Mulberry.  It is most often referred to as Phalsa or Falsa in its native habitat.   Called 'Sherbet Berry' in America, as the fruit texture and flavors are reminiscent of the texture of sherbet ice cream.

Sherbet Berry grows well both in tropical and subtropical climates.  It fruits more heavily in regions with distinct summer / winter seasons.  Can be grown easily outdoors in zones 9b-11.  Can be grown in 9a  if protected from deep, extended freezes below 27-28°. Mature plants can survive to 25°F, but some basic wind protection is needed at those temps.

GROWTH  CHARACTERISTICS

While not a member of the mulberry family (Morus nigra, Morus rubus, Morus alba),   Sherbet berries are rightfully nicknamed Indian mulberries.  Plant growth is very similar.

Sherbet berries can be trained into a single trunk tree called 'standard form', or it can be grown as a bush.  Berries will be much more plentiful and at a reachable height if grown as a multi-trunked bush.  Flowers happen on the fresh growth in late spring.

Trees have grey, rough bark with drooping branches. Leaves are a plump round shape w/ serrated edges, much like a mulberry tree.   Some are even a heart shape.

New growth is a berry-red color turning first a lime green then to a rich dark green.

Flowering forms only on current year's shoots in late spring, so late winter pruning promotes a good crop. Sherbet Berry is deciduous, i.e. it will lose its leaves in the winter.   Flowers are golden yellow-orange, turning to rich golden yellow when fully open with long frilly stamens.

Sherbet berry is very easy to grow as it tolerates many types of soil, and reaches heights of 6-15' when mature. It prefers a mildly acidic soil:   6.1 to 6.5 pH.   Mature trees are drought tolerant.   Best grown in partial sun,  not full sun.

Sherbet Berry is mildly cold tolerant down to 25-27 degrees when mature.  Can also be container grown.  But protect from wind chill below 29°F  temperatures will be below freezing for more than about 3 hours.

FRUITS

Produces 1/2" to 5/8" round fruits that turn purple to black when ripe, much like our blueberries or grapes grown in NA.    Some have reportedly produced 1" diameter fruits. Fruit ripens over an extended time, rather than all at once.

Flavor is sweet/sour, something like a grape sherbet-like flavor, while texture is more like an apple. Contains a single seed in the middle.   The deeper the purple color, the sweeter the fruits.

High in Vitamin C, Calcium, Potassium, Phosphorus and antioxidants.  Also contains the important amino acids Threonine and Methionine.   Phalsa syrup, a drink prepared from the juice of the berries, is considered a delicacy in northern India.