To deepen community engagement, we’re launching a monthly blog series that will highlight the best edible plants to harvest each month. While some trees are still maturing and may take a few years to reach full production, we invite you to visit anytime and enjoy the fruits that are ready now. Come experience the abundance and potential of local, sustainable gardening that can be added into your landscape. Nothing will be fresher or more fulfilling than something you grow and pick yourself!

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If you’re looking for a unique and highly rewarding fruit tree to add to your Florida landscape, look no further than the Jaboticabas (Plinia sp.). These Brazilian natives are gaining popularity in Florida for its ornamental beauty and delicious grape-like fruit that grows directly on the trunk and branches—a truly remarkable sight!

At our Educational Outreach Gardens at Twin Lakes Park, we’ve planted three standouts: ‘Sabara,’ ‘Grimal,’ and ‘Red.’ Each offers its own distinct flavor and growth characteristics, making Jaboticaba not only a conversation piece but also a productive fruiting tree for your home garden.

Why Jaboticaba Stands Out

Few trees are as striking as Jaboticaba. Its smooth, peeling bark reveals shades of brown and tan, providing year-round ornamental interest. The tree has a slow but steady growth habit, forming a rounded canopy with multiple trunks emerging from the base. When the tree blooms, delicate white flowers appear directly on the bark—an unusual botanical feature known as cauliflory—followed by glossy, dark purple fruit about three weeks later.

Mature Jaboticaba trees can flower and fruit four or more times per year, offering a nearly continuous supply of fresh fruit. The sweet, tart flavor of Jaboticaba fruit is usually reminiscent of Concord grapes, with a purple skin that contrasts beautifully with the juicy, pale pulp inside. Once mature, these highly productive trees can yield up to 1,000 pounds of fruit per year, with an almost year-round harvest—making Jaboticaba an invaluable addition to any foodscape!

Trees at Twin Lakes Park

We’ve chosen three excellent Jaboticabas for our gardens to showcase the diversity of Jaboticaba:

‘Sabara’ (Plinia cauliflora)

• The most commonly grown and prized variety and species.
• Small, thin-skinned fruits with a sweet flavor.
• Bears around four crops per year once mature.
• Takes the longest to reach fruiting age (7–10 years from seed).
• Susceptible to rust on flowers and fruit but well worth the wait.

‘Grimal’ (Plinia spirito-santensis)

• Named after legendary fruit collector Adolph Grimal, who introduced it to Florida.
• Produces larger purple-black fruit with rich flavor, reminiscent of Concord grapes with added complexity.
• More upright growth habit than ‘Sabara.’
• Bears around four crops per year once mature.

‘Red’ (Plinia hybrid likely cauliflora x aureana)

• Fruits at an earlier age than the purple varieties.
• Slightly smaller fruit than ‘Sabara’ but with a balanced sweet-tart flavor.
• More approachable for those used to temperate fruits like grapes and cherries.
• Capable of producing five to six crops per year once mature!

As a very popular and commercial crop in Brazil many other cultivars exist which can be read about here: https://www.growables.org/information/TropicalFruit/JaboticabaVarieties.htm

Growing Jaboticaba

Jaboticaba thrives in Florida’s warm, humid climate. Here’s what you need to know to keep your tree happy and productive:

✅ Sun: Full sun is ideal, but partial shade with direct sunlight for part of the day will also work.
✅ Soil: Well-draining soil is essential. Jaboticaba tolerates a range of soil pH levels and textures but prefers acidic. 
✅ Water: Regular watering is key, especially during dry spells, but avoid waterlogged soil.
✅ Space: The tree grows slowly, but it will eventually form a vase-shaped canopy. Keep the area beneath the tree mulched or planted with low groundcovers to showcase the attractive trunk and make harvesting easier.

Jaboticaba in Containers

One of the best things about Jaboticaba is how well it thrives in containers. You can start with a young tree in a 1-gallon (~$25) or 3-gallon (~$50) pot, which makes it accessible even if you’re renting or have limited yard space. Jaboticaba grows slowly, so it’s easy to manage in a container for several years.

Once you’re ready to plant it in the ground, your mature tree could be worth several hundred dollars at fruiting age—a great return on your investment! Many collectors start with small trees and grow them out until they have a permanent spot. In fact, I currently have four small Jaboticaba trees growing in containers, waiting for the day I can plant them in a future home.

Culinary Uses of Jaboticaba

Jaboticaba’s sweet, tart flavor and juicy flesh make it a versatile ingredient in the kitchen. While fresh Jaboticaba is a common sight in Brazilian markets, its short shelf life—just 3 to 4 days after harvest—means it’s rarely found fresh outside growing regions. While it grows well here I haven’t seen it for sale yet. This makes it even more special for home growers, who can enjoy it at its peak flavor straight from the tree. Here’s how Jaboticaba is commonly used:

• Fresh Consumption: Jaboticaba is often eaten fresh off the tree. The thin, tart skin contrasts beautifully with the sweet, juicy flesh inside, making it a refreshing snack.
• Juice, Jams, and Jellies: Jaboticaba’s rich flavor lends itself well to processing. The fruit is commonly used to make flavorful juices, jams, and jellies, preserving its sweetness and tartness for longer enjoyment.
• Wines and Liqueurs: Thanks to its natural sugars and balanced acidity, Jaboticaba ferments exceptionally well, producing deep, rich wines and liqueurs with complex flavors. It makes it a standout option for home winemaking and multiple experts are in the area for this process.
• Syrups and Tarts: The sweet-tart juice can be reduced into a syrup, perfect for drizzling over pancakes or mixing into cocktails. The whole fruit can also be baked into tarts and pastries, adding a burst of flavor and color.
• Other Uses: Jaboticaba can be incorporated into a variety of recipes, including smoothies, fruit salads, and desserts. Its vibrant flavor and deep purple color make it a striking addition to both sweet and savory dishes.

Whether you’re snacking on it fresh or crafting homemade jams and wines, jaboticaba’s versatility in the kitchen makes it a valuable addition to any foodscape.

Why You’ll Love It

Jaboticaba’s combination of striking beauty and delicious fruit makes it a standout addition to any Florida landscape. It’s unusual fruiting habit, rich flavor, and multi-season harvests ensure you’ll get plenty of compliments—and fresh snacks—all year long. Place it near a patio, walkway, or entrance where you can appreciate its unique growth and fruit production up close. If you’re curious to see Jaboticaba in action, visit our Twin Lakes Park Educational Outreach Gardens to see the ‘Sabara,’ ‘Grimal,’ and ‘Red‘ cultivars thriving in person! Though unfortunately they are a couple years away from flowering.

Jaboticaba isn’t just a fruit tree—it’s an all-around standout. Whether you’re planting it for its ornamental value or the delicious fruit, this tropical gem is sure to become one of your favorite additions to the garden. March Jaboticaba – A Tree That Can Give You a Trunk Full of Fruit!

Resources

• University of Hawai’i on Jaboticaba: https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/F_N-20.pdf
• UF/IFAS Blog on Jaboticaba: https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/browardco/2022/08/25/jaboticaba-a-fruit-worth-the-wait/
• UF/IFAS Factsheet on Jaboticaba: https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/database/documents/pdf/shrub_fact_sheets/myrcaua.pdf
• UF/IFAS Lee County Fact Sheet on Jaboticaba: https://www.growables.org/information/TropicalFruit/documents/JaboticabaLeeCounty.pdf
• Growables on Jaboticaba: https://www.growables.org/information/TropicalFruit/jaboticaba.htm

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