SWFL Fruits & Plants

SWFL Fruits & Plants

FRUIT & PLANTS THAT GROW IN SWFL

A-B

Abiu I
 Ackee I
 
Allspice I
 Apple I
 Atemoya I
 Avocado I
 Bael I
 Banana I
 
Barbados Cherry I
 
Bay Rum I
 
Bignay I
 
Bilimbi I
 Biriba I
 Blackberry I
 
Blackberry Jam I
 
Black Sapote I
 
Blueberry I
 
Blue Grape I
 

Bunchosia

C-D

Caimito I Canistel I 
Cape Gooseberry I 
Capulin Cherry I Carambola I Carissa I Carob I CashewChe I 
Cherry of the Rio Grande I Cocoa I 
Coconut I Cocoplum I Coffee I Curry Leaf I 
Custard Apple

E-G

Elderberry I 
Eugenia I 
Everglades Tomato I Falsa I Fig I Garcinia I Granadilla I Grape, Muscadine I 
Green Sapote I Grumichama I Guava Cas I Guava, Cattley I Guava, Pineapple I Guava, Tropical

H-J

Ilama I 
Imbe I Inga I Jaboticaba I Jackfruit I 
 Jujube, Chinese I Jujube, Indian I June Plum

K-M

Kei Apple I 
Kwai Muk I 
Lemon I 

Lime, Key I 

Lime, Persian or Tahiti I 

Longan I 
Loquat I 
Lychee I 
Macadamia I 
Malabar Chestnut I 

Malay Apple I 

Mamey Sapote I 
Mammee Apple I 
Mango I 
Miracle Fruit I 

Mombin I 
Monstera I 

Moringa I 
Mulberry I 
Muntingia I 

Mysore Raspberry

N-P

Nance I Neem I 
Noni I Orange I Otaheite Gooseberry I Papaya I 
Passion Fruit I Pawpaw I 
Peach & Nectarine I Peach Palm I Pear I Pepino Dulce I Persimmon I Pigeon Pea I Pineapple I 
Pitaya I Pitomba I Pitangatuba I 
Plantain I Pomegranate I Prickley Pear I Pummelo

Q-S

Raisin Tree I Rose Apple I Rumberry I Santo I Sapodilla I Seagrape I 
Soursop I Spanish Lime I Spanish Tamarind I Strawberry I Stopper I Surinam Cherry I 
Sugar Apple

T-Z

Tallowwood I Tamarind I Tea I Tree Tomato I 
Turkey Berry (Pea Eggplant) I Vanilla I Wampi  I Watermelon I Wax Jambu I White Sapote I Yacon

TOXIC

Ackee fruit and seed are not edible. The edible part is only the fleshy aril surrounding the seed, and then only when the fruit is fully ripe and splits open naturally (“awned” or “yawned”). Also, the red tissue and veins that connect the aril to the seeds must be removed.

  • It must be fresh. Both immature and overripe Ackees are poisonous.
  • Safer for neighbors or their children if planted in a back yard or inaccessible spot.
  • Not just upset-stomach-poisonous: but deadly.

Recommendation: Although the foliage and bright red fruit of ackee are beautiful, they are not recommended for home plantings by anyone unfamiliar with the fruit of this tree. In addition, children and adults unfamiliar with the fruit must be kept from consuming the fruit if it is accidentally picked at an improper stage of development.

  • It’s rare, but people who were considered experts in handling Ackee have died from eating it. Do take care!

That said, Saltfish and Ackee is the national dish of Jamaica, where it is much loved.

The Cashew Apple is edible, but inside the nut shell is a viscous oily sap—like poison ivy on steroids—which must be neutralized before you crack it open. Cashew (very cold sensitive here) is in the same family as Poison Ivy which grows well in the Treasure Coast as do more welcome relatives like Mango and the no longer welcome Brazilian pepper (introduced as a decorative plant, it quickly took over. It is now a Class 1 invasive.)

Monstera All parts of the plant are poisonous including the fruit before it is fully ripe. The unripe fruit contains oxylate; these are needle shaped crystals that literally feel like needles and burn in your mouth. You know the fruit is ripe when the hexagon shaped scales fall off by themselves. Store the unripe fruit in a plastic or paper bag, or in an empty cooler until the fruit expands and pushes off the scales completely. Either eat what is exposed or if it is protected you can wait until the whole fruit can be eaten. Whatever fruit is exposed is safe to eat. If you are the allergic type, try a little and wait a full 10 minutes to be sure there is no reaction. The black specks are floral remnants and are harmless.

Please make sure you do your research on any fruit or plant that you plan to grow.

To inform, educate and advise members and the public in the selection of tropical and subtropical fruiting plants and trees.

Get In Touch

Contact Us

bonitafruitclub@gmail.com

Meetings

We meet on the 2nd and 4th
Saturday of the month at:
Bonita Springs Fire Rescue
27701 Bonita Grande Dr
Bonita Springs, FL

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