Ximenia americana
Ximenia americana
Ximenia americana (Hog Plum, Sea Lemon) is a member of the Myrtaceae family. This plant has a widespread distribution, ranging throught the subtropics and tropics of the world. It is found in Florida, Central and South America, throughout most of Central Africa, India, Australia, and islands in South east Asia(Kew). It’s pretty interesting to see a large seeded species have a circumtropical/subtropical distribution. This species seems like it has a lot of potential in somewhat colder climates and may present possibilities for growers in climate zone 9b and up.
Family: Myrtaceae
Name: Ximenia americana
Common Name / Native Name: Hog Plum, Sea Lemon
Range: Florida, Central & South America, Central Africa, India, Australia, and islands of South East Asia
Sun: Full sun/ Part shade
Height: 9-20 feet
Width: 6-12 feet
Foliage: Light green lanceolate leaves that form in whorls along the stem, spines form on stems.
Flower: A small white flower born in umbels, inconspicuous.
Soil Type/ pH: Prefers acidity, pH 5-7
USDA Climate Zones: Undetermined
Cold Hardiness: A plant with a distribution from Florida down into Brazil. A wide distribution lends itself to having potential for cold hardiness/
Edibility: The fruit is commonly eaten out of hand in the wild but can also be processed into other items. It is sweet and acidic which lends itself to being similar to other tropical Myrtaceae. Definitely a flavor worth exploring.
Age to maturity: 3-4 years from seed
Sources:
http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Ximenia+americana
http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:316341-2