How to grow Jaboticaba in Australia
Jaboticaba is a slow-growing Brazilian tree that carries its round, purple-black fruit directly on the trunk and branches. The fruit has white, sweet flesh inside a thin, tart skin, and it lasts only a day or two once picked, which is why it is so rarely sold. It suits warm, frost-free gardens and is one of the few fruit trees that crops happily in a large pot.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Jaboticaba in Australia
At a glance
When to plant by region
| Region | When to plant | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | September to February | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | September to February | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | September to February | |
| Melbourne & Victoria | September to November | Marginal. Plant Sep to Nov once frosts finish, in a warm sheltered spot, and cover young trees on frost nights. Very slow to fruit in Melbourne. |
| Adelaide & SA | September and October | Plant Sep to Oct after frost in a sheltered spot with some afternoon shade. Slow growing and thirsty; keep the soil acid and moist through summer. |
| Perth & WA | September to November | Plant Sep to Nov with afternoon shade. Thirsty on sand; add compost, mulch heavily and keep the soil acid and moist through summer. |
| Tasmania | Not suited | Unsuitable. Subtropical tree killed by hard frost. Not viable in Tasmania. |
| Canberra & ACT | Not suited | Not viable. Subtropical; killed by Canberra frost. Try cherry or blueberry instead. |
| North Queensland | September to February | |
| Darwin & Top End | September to February |
Where to plant
Jaboticaba likes a warm, sheltered spot with rich, deep soil that stays moist. It grows in part shade or full sun; most trees are happy with some shade, while full sun gives a larger crop as long as the soil does not dry out. It has a fairly shallow root system and poor drought tolerance, so short dry spells brown the leaf tips.
Soil should be slightly acidic, around pH 5 to 6.5. Trees will grow in sandy or alkaline soil if you dig in plenty of compost or well-rotted manure, keep them watered and correct the leaf yellowing (trace element shortages) that alkaline soil tends to cause.
In Australia it is grown mostly on the east coast, especially in Queensland, and it will take a light frost once established. Young trees are the most vulnerable to cold.
- South East Queensland, the Northern Rivers and Sydney: the best areas. Plant from September to February in a sheltered spot.
- North Queensland and Darwin: it grows, but crops are usually smaller in the tropics. Give it some shade and keep it watered in the dry season.
- Perth: plant September to November with afternoon shade. Dig compost into the sand, mulch heavily and keep the soil moist and slightly acidic through summer.
- Adelaide: plant September to October after frost in a sheltered spot with afternoon shade, and water well through summer.
- Melbourne: marginal. Plant September to November in the warmest, most sheltered spot and cover young trees on frosty nights; expect a long wait for fruit. A pot you can move is a good option.
- Canberra and Hobart: not suitable, as hard frosts kill the tree.
Choosing a variety
The common jaboticaba (Plinia cauliflora) is sold in small-leaf and large-leaf forms. Australian growers report that the small-leaf, small-fruited form starts cropping sooner, while the large-leaf form has bigger fruit but takes longer to begin. Sabara is a well-known small-fruited selection, noted in Florida trials for tolerating root-knot nematodes. Yellow jaboticaba is a related species with small fruit said to taste like lychee.
Buy a grafted or air-layered tree if you can find one. They fruit within a few years, while seedlings can take 8 years or more.
How to plant
- Plant in spring or summer, once there is no risk of frost, so the tree settles in during warm weather.
- Dig compost or well-rotted manure into the planting area, especially in sandy or alkaline soil.
- Water the tree in its pot well, then plant it at the same depth it was growing in the pot.
- Water in deeply and mulch over the root zone, keeping the mulch clear of the trunk.
- Keep the soil moist while the tree establishes, as it does not like drying out.
Watering and feeding
Jaboticaba does best in soil that stays evenly moist, and it has poor drought tolerance. Water regularly through dry weather, and above all while flowers and fruit are forming; dry spells reduce the size and number of fruit. Older trees cope with wet soil for a while, but young trees in pots need free drainage.
Feed lightly two or three times a year through the warm months with a slow-release or organic fertiliser, such as a light dressing of poultry manure. The tree burns easily with too much nitrogen, so little and often is safer than one heavy dose.
Pruning and care through the year
- Young trees need no pruning. Remove suckers from the base if you want a single trunk.
- On older trees, thin out crossing branches to let in light, which helps flowering. Trees can also be pruned as a hedge.
- Net the tree as fruit ripens, as birds love the ripe fruit.
Harvesting
The main flowering is in spring, and fruit ripens only 30 to 45 days later, so a tree can crop two or more times a year in a good season. In Australia the main harvest is usually from about September to December.
Pick fruit when it turns from green through maroon to shiny black and gives slightly to a gentle squeeze. Fruit ripens unevenly, so pick over several days, taking only the shiny black ones and leaving the rest to colour up.
Growing in pots
Because it grows so slowly, jaboticaba does well in a large pot, and it can fruit in one. Use a pot at least 50 cm wide with a quality potting mix for acid-loving plants, and keep it moist, as pots dry out quickly. Pot-grown trees stay smaller than trees in the ground. In cooler areas a pot lets you move the tree to a warm, sheltered spot over winter.
Using it
Eat the fruit fresh by squeezing the flesh out of the skin, or use it for jam, jelly, juice and wine. The skin is edible but tart and high in tannin. Fruit keeps only one to two days at room temperature and three to four days in the fridge, so use it quickly or freeze the pulp.
Propagation
Seed must be sown fresh, as it loses viability within days, and seedlings take many years to fruit. Grafting and air layering give a tree that fruits much sooner, which is why most nursery trees are grown that way.
Companion planting
Jaboticaba is a small, shade-tolerant tree, so it fits well under or beside larger trees in a warm-climate fruit garden.
Good companions
- Tropical fruit trees It shares their need for warmth, moisture and shelter, and copes with the light shade a taller tree casts.
Pests and diseases
Jaboticaba has very few problems. Australian growers report that its thick skin keeps fruit fly from stinging the fruit, so birds are the main nuisance.
Pests to watch for
- Birds Ripe, shiny black fruit pecked or taken from the trunk; net the tree as fruit colours.
- Aphids Small clusters, including woolly aphid, on new spring growth; usually minor and needs no spraying.
- Scale Small, hard bumps on stems and leaves, mostly on stressed or overfed trees.
Diseases to watch for
- Rust Spots on the fruit in very wet weather; it is mostly cosmetic and the fruit is still edible.
Common questions
How long does a jaboticaba take to fruit?
A grafted or air-layered tree usually fruits within a few years. Trees grown from seed can take 8 years or more, and sometimes much longer, so a grafted tree is worth the extra cost.
Can I grow jaboticaba in a pot?
Yes. It grows slowly, so it suits a large pot and can fruit in one. Use a pot at least 50 cm wide, a potting mix for acid-loving plants, and water often so it never dries out.
Can jaboticaba grow in Melbourne or other cool areas?
It is marginal in Melbourne and not suited to Canberra or Hobart. Trees are damaged by prolonged temperatures below about minus 2 degrees, so in Melbourne plant it in the warmest sheltered spot, or in a pot, and protect young trees from frost.
Does jaboticaba need full sun?
No. It grows well in part shade, and most trees like some shade. Full sun gives a bigger crop, provided the soil stays moist.
When is jaboticaba fruit ripe?
When it turns shiny black and gives slightly to a gentle squeeze. Fruit ripens 30 to 45 days after flowering and unevenly, so pick over several days.
Why is my jaboticaba not fruiting?
The most common reason is age: seedling trees can take many years to start. Dry soil while flowering, too much nitrogen fertiliser and too much shade also reduce fruiting.
How long does jaboticaba fruit keep?
Only one to two days at room temperature and three to four days in the fridge. Eat it fresh, or make jam or freeze the pulp soon after picking.
Sources we checked: Gardening Australia: Fruit Fancier; Gardening Australia: Potted Fruit; ABC Rural: Exotic jaboticaba fruit gets social media exposure; Rare Fruit Council of Australia archives: Jaboticaba, a new crop to look out for; Rare Fruit Council of Australia archives (via Growables): Jaboticaba growers' notes; University of Florida IFAS: Jaboticaba, a unique fruit tree for Florida home gardeners (HS1519).