Red Mombin
Spondias purpurea / Spondias mombin
aka hog plum, Spanish plum;
While there are many different trees regionally referred to as simply 'hog plum', red mombin or Spondias purpurea is the most commonly called 'hog plum'.
Most Florida nurseries call it simply 'red mombin', however much of the literature describes it as 'purple mombin'.
Red mombin is a fast growing, small, semi-deciduous tree, up to 40' high, and is a native to the tropical Americas, especially northeast Brazil, and including the West Indies, and southern Mexico. It has been naturalized into parts of Africa, India, Sri Lanka, Bahamas and other Caribbean islands.
Red Mombin will drop leaves in the winter just like the June Plum.
Red mombin leaves up close.
very ripe fruit
Growing conditions
Spondias purpurea is actually a flowering plant in the cashew family, Anacardiaceae. It thrives in areas that have distinct wet and dry seasons, such as our mostly dry April and May, followed by monsoon rains in June and July.
It grows very rapidly (up to 10'/yr), needs full sun of at least 8 hrs a day, and prefers well-drained fertile soil. Prefers slightly acidic conditions, pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
Plant on a slight mound if the area tends to hold standing water after a heavy rain. It must have good drainage.
It will lose most of its leaves briefly in the winter. Mature trees can take 26-28°. young trees are damaged at 40°F. Does best in zones 10-11.
While yellow mombin can grow as tall as 50-65' in its native environment, expect a maximum of 30' for red mombin in Florida's tropical areas. Some sources say only about 25' max. It was introduced to Florida in 1839.
Wood of the tree is very brittle and prone to breaking, so regular trimming to form a denser canopy with shorter branches can be advantageous.
Fruits
Spondias mombin produces edible plum-like fruits in either red or yellow varieties, though the red is the more common in Florida. Both are very juicy.
Fruits set close together along thin branches (see 2nd photo at far right). Red mombin are self pollinating.
It is noteworthy that the mombin is a member of the Sumac family, and as such is distantly kin to the poison ivy plant, mango, and pistachio.
3g red mombin
lg 7g red mombin