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    Home » Plants

    Jamaica Cherry

    Published: Jun 8, 2022 · Modified: Jun 8, 2022 by Poppy Hudson ·

    Leaves and fruit of muntingia calabura tree.
    Tiny shiny red berries of the Jamaica cherry tree.
    Pinterest graphic with photo and label for Jamaica cherry plant.

    The rosy color and eye-catching metallic sheen of Jamaica cherry fruit hanging from tree branches reminds me of tiny ornaments. Can you believe how beautiful the berries are?

    One ripe pink Jamaica cheery tree berry and one green one with leaves.

    Because the lovely fruit falls easily to the ground, there's a precious feel collecting berries off the tree. Even the generous leaves have a delicate character. They're soft and suede-like.

    Jump to:
    • BOTANICAL 
    • COMMON NAMES
    • What is Jamaica cherry?
    • Taste
    • Ways to eat
    • A rare family
    • Uses
    • Growing
    • More exotic tropical fruits
    • Safety

    BOTANICAL 

    • FAMILY: Muntingiaceae
    • GENUS: Muntingia 
    • SPECIES: M. Calabura 
    • TYPE: Perennial tree
    • NATIVE: Southern Mexico, Central America, South America, Caribbean
    • DISTRIBUTION: Tropical lowlands

    COMMON NAMES

    • ENGLISH - Jamaican cherry, strawberry tree, Panama berry, Singapore cherry, cotton candy berry, jamfruit, bird cherry, calabur
    • INTERNATIONAL - aratilis, calabura, venevene, capulin blanco, bois d'orme, seresa, kersen, pala maram, takhop farang, cay trung ca, buah cheri, panjasaara pazham, kerukup siam

    What is Jamaica cherry?

    Jamaica cherry tree has shiny pink berries that look like small Christmas ornaments.

    Jamaica cherry is the common name for Muntingia calabura, a fast-growing tree native to southern Mexico, Central America, tropical South America, and some Caribbean islands.

    It's prized as an ornamental as well as a backyard fruit source. With its sweet fruit and attractive growth, it's easy to understand why it has spread to many tropical and subtropical regions around the world.

    Top tip

    Here is an audio link if you would like to know how to pronounce Muntingia calabura.

    Jamaican cherry fruit has notable levels of vitamins K and C, as well as the minerals calcium, iron, and potassium.

    Like so many other tropical plants, it has a long list of medicinal benefits in traditional medicine. I love discovering new foods that are both nutritious and delicious!

    Taste

    Are you wondering what the tiny fruit tastes like? Well, don't let the name strawberry tree, from Florida, throw you off. Likewise, the word cherry is misleading.

    Calabura berries don't have a pit inside and aren't tart. Instead, they have tiny imperceptible seeds, and a flavor like.....are you ready for this? Cotton candy!

    Fruit

    Five tiny red tropical frut tree berriws on a tile with green leaves.

    Though Jamaica cherry is widely cultivated and fruits year-round, commercial production is mostly non-existent.

    Jamaica cherry plant display with fruit, flowers and leaves.

    It would take a while to pick a good lot of the tiny red berries. Plus, I am thinking they don't make it to farmers' markets because they don't last long on a shelf.

    Once they are harvested, the thin-skinned berries will only last a few days even if they are refrigerated.

    Tiny red berries of a tropical tree sitting on a plate.

    Thus, I suspect most people who don't have trees of their own rely on the generosity of friends and neighbors who are growing them on their property.

    Ways to eat

    The tiny berries of Jamaica cherry make irresistible snacking when eaten raw out of hand. The tender-crisp skin gives way to juicy fruit that's soft, perfumed, and predominantly sweet.

    Bowl of creamy vegan vanilla pudding decorated with three berries and a flower.

    Because they are dear where we live, I like to sprinkle them on top of Vanilla Bean Pudding for a special treat.

    If you have access to a tree that is as prolific as the stories tell, you might like to try juicing them or cooking them in tarts, sauces, or jam.

    They are bound to be welcome mixed into tropical fruit salads and tossed over yogurt or chia pudding.

    Flowers

    Two delicate white flowers on a branch with green leaves and red fruit.

    The misleading moniker of strawberry tree, common in Florida, is a more apt reference to the flowers resembling those of strawberry plants than to the pretty red fruit.

    The delicate flowers are loved by both bees and hummingbirds. I can only imagine what the honey from this sugarplum tree tastes like.

    Jamaica cherry plant flower close up.

    Collectively, the light fragrance of calabura flowers leaves a beautiful fragrance for anyone walking under the canopy of a tall tree.

    A fun fact is that the small, five-petaled white flowers open at dawn and only last for one day.

    Leaves

    Green leaves of Jamaica cherry tree displayed on a marble tile.

    The leaves make a pleasant tasting tisane. Surprisingly, the green leaves turn a light golden color similar to chamomile tea.

    The mouthfeel is very soft, and I find sipping the warm tea relaxing.

    A rare family

    It's fascinating how exclusive Muntingia calabura's plant family is. There are only three genera in the family. The family is called Muntingiaceae and all three genera are flowering trees.

    Of note is the fact that each tree is its own singular species. Of the three, only Jamaica cherry goes by common names.

    Indeed, the rarest of the two siblings is Neotessmannia Uniflora Burret. It's confined to its native habitat in Amazonian Peru.

    I searched high and low but couldn't find any photos of its fruit and flowers. It would be so exciting to know someone who has actually seen this species. Be sure and drop me a line if that person is you!

    Uses

    In addition to the culinary and medicinal uses of Jamaica cherry trees, there are several other environmental and practical benefits. They provide:

    • Shade and shelter
    • Wildlife habitat
    • Nectar for bees and hummingbirds
    • Erosion control
    • Fiber and bark for rope and basket making
    • Wood suitable for boxes and light construction
    • Timber for fast-igniting fuel with a low smoke output

    Growing

    Heavy green foliage of a large tropical tree.

    Muntingia can be grown from cuttings but is most often propagated by seeds. Isn't it incredible to think a tree that grows as tall as 40 feet grows from seeds that are so small they are hard to see?

    Though supply is dependent on availability, there are resources for gardeners who would like to have a Jamaica cherry tree shipped to them.

    Check out Well Spring Gardens, Sow Exotic, and Logees if Muntingia calabura is on your must-have list.

    Garden Oracle has growing tips and helpful information on cultivation for those living in Arizona and California.

    Suckers from a tropical tree growing tall.

    It's worth noting that Muntingia calabura spreads by suckers as well as seeds and can be a threat to ecosystems in some areas.

    It's rated as a high-risk plant for the Pacific Islands by PIER and is noted by Cabi.org as invasive in Puerto Rico, Singapore, and Papua New Guinea.

    More exotic tropical fruits

    • Hawaiian Noni
    • Dragon Fruit Plant
    • Roselle
    • Wild Pink Guava

    Safety

    Always be one hundred percent sure of your plant identification if consuming foraged or wild plants. Finally, follow your doctor's advice when eating new or unfamiliar plants, especially if you are pregnant or taking any medications.

    Enjoyed this post? Leave a comment, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ rate it, and follow @poppyswildkitchen on Instagram. Aloha!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Elise

      February 16, 2021 at 2:32 pm

      Oh cotton candy, I want to try, hope that I will find some one day!

      Reply
      • poppyswildkitchen

        February 18, 2021 at 9:13 am

        I hope you can too. They are an amazing fruit! I'll keep you in mind when they ripen again and I can pick a few.

        Reply

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