Tropical fruit tree from America with tart yellow fruits, everything from fruit to leaves is useful

Spondias mombin, known as yellow mombin, is an elegant, deciduous tree with a dense, spreading crown. In its natural habitat, it can reach a height of up to 25 meters. The species is native to tropical America, including the West Indies, and is now cultivated in large parts of the tropics for its edible fruit.

The tree is beautiful in bloom thanks to its very numerous and large panicles of small white flowers, and also when the red to yellow fruits develop. The yellow, oval fruits are 3 to 4 centimeters long and have a pleasantly tart, fleshy pulp.

The fruits can be eaten fresh, as juice, jam, sorbet, or baked into cakes. Even the buds and young leaves can be cooked as vegetables; the shoots taste like cassava and can be eaten raw or cooked. Leaves and flowers can be used as herbal tea.

Care

As this is a tropical tree, it will likely be grown indoors or in winter-heated greenhouses and conservatories in our climate. Give it the brightest spot you can offer, preferably with direct sun.

The tree is not very picky about soil and does not need very nutrient-rich conditions, but very poor soil is unsuitable. It prefers a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. This is a fast-growing tree that easily reaches 3.5 meters within 2 years from seed.

Water regularly during the growing season and keep warm year-round. Ideal temperature 20 to 30 degrees Celsius. Fruiting usually begins when seed-grown trees are about 5 years old, while well-cared-for cuttings can start bearing fruit earlier.