Myrtaceae
Syzygium cumini
Java Plum, Black Plum, Jambolan, Indian Blackberry · Mzambarau
Small/Medium Tree
53 small available right now.
About
This evergreen tree features dense foliage and can reach heights of up to 30 metres. Its glossy, leathery, dark green leaves are oval and aromatic, often displaying a pinkish hue when young. Small, fragrant pink or white flowers develop into ovoid fruits that ripen from green to a deep purple or black, containing a single large seed and having sweet, tangy, and astringent flesh.
Where it works in Kilifi
Ideal for a Kilifi-coast garden, this tree thrives in full sun and a wide range of soils, including well-drained loamy, shallow, or even waterlogged conditions once established. It serves excellently as a shade tree, ornamental specimen, or for windbreak and dune stabilisation.
Growing notes
A fast-growing species, *Syzygium cumini* can reach significant heights rapidly, with seedlings potentially growing 4 metres in just two years. It prefers moist to wet soil but exhibits good drought tolerance once established. Caution: this species can self-sow freely and has the potential to become invasive in some pasturelands.
Sources
Researched with web grounding from: pfaf.org, planetayurveda.com, alwaysayurveda.com, wikipedia.org, growables.org, cabidigitallibrary.org. Please verify with local knowledge before relying on these notes.