Diospyros lycioides
Monkey Plum, Blue Bush
Diospyros lycioides
Diospyros lycioides is a plant that is deeply tied with many cultures in Africa. It is a plant that can be found throughout most of Africa except for the colder, winter wet locations in South Africa. It is a plant that has been widely regarded as important in medicinal and edible aspects. The fruit is a small plum sized fruit that has a red to black exterior giving way to a translucent, slightly sweet and gelatinous interior. It is great eaten out of hand and is also used to make beer. The seeds within the fruits are also roasted and used as a coffee substitute.
The plants appear to be pretty hardy to hot and dry conditions and do particularly well in cultivated environments. They make fantastic hedge plants and are often used as such in Africa. This species is dioecious, meaning a male and female plant are required in order to get fruit, with fruit only on the female plants.
This Diospyros species has been on my list for a while and seems like a really interesting plant that I can’t wait to incorporate into my agroforest system!
Family: Ebenaceae
Name: Diospyros lycioides
Common Name / Native Name: Blue Bush, Monkey plum / bloubus, Umbulwa (Zulu) and various other varying by region
Range: Unknown, Mata Atlantica, Atlantic Forest
Sun: Full sun/Part Shade
Height: 1-3 feet
Width: 1-3 feet
Foliage: Opposite, very fine pine needle like leaves
Flower: Small white/yellow flowers
Fruit: Small Red Orange-Red fruits with a decent flesh to seed ratio
Soil Type/ pH: Prefers acidic soils but will tolerate higher pH
USDA Climate Zones: Unknown
Cold Hardiness: Unknown
Edibility: Supposedly a good fruit eaten out of hand.
Age to maturity: Unknown
Sources:
http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Diospyros+lycioides