Myrtaceae
Syzygium cumini
Java Plum, Black Plum, Jambolan, Indian Blackberry · Mzambarau
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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.