Scientific name: Spondias purpurea
A small tropical fruit tree in the Anacardiaceae (cashew family) — the family of mango, cashew and ambarella. Also known as jocote, purple mombin, Spanish plum and, in Brazil, siriguela. According to Plants of the World Online (Kew), it is native from Mexico to northern Colombia, in seasonally dry tropical forest. The tree usually grows 3–8 m tall (sometimes to about 15 m), with a wide crown and thick, brittle branches, and is deciduous in the dry season. Small red-purple flowers appear on the branches before the new leaves. The fruit is an oval drupe 2.5–5 cm long, red to purple (yellow on some trees), with thin glossy skin, juicy yellow sweet-tart flesh and one large fibrous stone (Morton, 1987)
אזל מהמלאי
Prices are updated according to nursery stock. Nationwide shipping in Israel; self-pickup is free.
Red Mombin (Jocote) (Spondias purpurea) — A small tropical fruit tree in the Anacardiaceae (cashew family) — the family of mango, cashew and ambarella. Also known as jocote, purple mombin, Spanish plum and, in Brazil, siriguela. According to Plants of the World Online (Kew), it is native from Mexico to northern Colombia, in seasonally dry tropical forest. The tree usually grows 3–8 m tall (sometimes to about 15 m), with a wide crown and thick, brittle branches, and is deciduous in the dry season. Small red-purple flowers appear on the branches before the new leaves. The fruit is an oval drupe 2.5–5 cm long, red to purple (yellow on some trees), with thin glossy skin, juicy yellow sweet-tart flesh and one large fibrous stone (Morton, 1987)
During the first two years water regularly — 2–3 times a week in summer, and in winter according to rainfall and soil moisture, letting the top layer dry between waterings. Established trees need less frequent irrigation. Good drainage matters most: standing water at the roots is more harmful than under-watering.
Protect young plants from frost with fleece, mulch, or by growing them in a container that can be moved to a sheltered spot. Mature trees are more resilient; in colder areas plant in a wind-sheltered corner.
Time to fruiting depends on plant size and propagation method: grafted plants fruit earlier than seedlings. Buying a larger, developed plant shortens the wait considerably. Regular watering, seasonal fertilizing, and correct placement have the greatest influence on first flowering.
You can buy Red Mombin (Jocote) plants directly at Fill the Land nursery, 27 HaSe'ora St, Tzrufa, with nationwide shipping. Details and ordering: https://malo-et-haaretz.com/en/plant/spondias-purpurea.