PlantFiles: Ambarella, Otaheite Apple, Golden Apple, Wi-Tree, Jewish Plum
Spondias dulcis

To the Dave's Garden community,

I have a 3 year old Spondias dulcis and it is producing new growth constantly, BUT! the new growth keeps at an immature state, and the new shoots never get past an inch and a half in size. They stay a light green turn yellow then fall off as new immature growth is being produced all over the plant. It has never fruited in the 3 years that I have had it and I am wondering if there is anything I am doing wrong, as our plants are trying to survive us, their owners.

I have it in a 5" pot, it is 3 feet tall, roots not quite filling the put just yet, they look healthy. I let the soil become visually dry before rewatering, and feed bi-monthly.

I have seen mature "correct" June Plums and know they are supposed to produce long drooping branches. This is not the case w/ my specimen, it is a 3 ft stick w/ tufts of immature growth all over it. please if anyone knows what the problem could be post some information for me. Thank You,

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My tree set fruit in a pot at about 3 years/4 ft. height. It will allegedly bloom and fruit itself to death - I find that this is true. Masses of flowers produce large bunches of fruit; as they grow, the branches are practically pulled off of the tree.
I find the fruit more enjoyable when slightly green, tart and hard. The ripe fruit has a slightly resinous aftertaste.
A very rewarding potted small tree. I will try a few seedlings planted in-ground when they are large enough, and report my findings for my zone 9a.

The first outsider to see and record the existence of Ambarella was Joseph Banks and his party in the Society Islands in the summer of 1769.
The Society Islands are believed to be the origin of the
Ambarella.

The two pictures I have posted are of the dwarf ambarella. I understand the non-dwarf of this mango relative can get quite large [as can the mango], but the largest dwarf I've seen is about 4-1/2 feet tall by about the same in width.

I prefer the fruit ripe; a friend likes it green--"tart and crisp like an apple," he says. When ripe, ambarella are sweet with a hint of pineapple. And it does produce a lot of fruit.

Like the mango, unfortunately, it has the same sort of intractable pit. If someone could breed a freestone mango or ambarella they would become rich beyond measure. Especially a freestone mango; that would be big-time bingo!

Ambarellas lose their leaves in a zone 10a Florida winter but quickly recoup in spring.