Scientific: Syzygium cumini (Synonyms: Calyptranthes jambolana, Eugenia cumini, Eugenia djouat, Eugenia jambolana, Myrtus cumini, Syzygium jambolana)
Common: java plum, Malabar plum, black plum, jamun, jaman, jambul, jambolan
Family: Myrtaceae
Origin: Indian subcontinent east into tropical southeast Asia. Has naturalized on islands in the western Pacific and Indian oceans and in Florida.
Pronounciation: See-ZEE-gee-um cu-MI-ni
Hardiness zones
Sunset 13-24
USDA 9 (with protection in colder sites)-11
Landscape Use: Evergreen shade tree, patio tree, edible gardens, oasis landscape designs, tropical or subtropical ambiance.
Form & Character: Upright, rounded, bold, inviting, messy.
Growth Habit: Evergreen, woody, broadleaf perennial tree, moderate to fast growth to 100-feet tall with somewhat lessor spread; however, much smaller mature size in Phoenix where it can reach modest heights of 30- to 40-feet tall.
Foliage/texture: Leaves oblong to mostly lanceolate, pinkish when young, maturing to a leathery, glossy dark green with a yellow midrib, 4-inches long, somewhat aromatic; medium texture.
Flowers & fruits: Flowers cream colored, small to 0.25 inches in diameter during spring, mildly fragrant, arranged in panicled clusters; fruits are oblong to ovoid berries, green when immature ripening from pink to crimson red to black when fully mature (rarely white) during summer, edible with a complex of sweet, mildly sour and astringent flavors, fruits easily stain. Trees are capable of self pollination with insects and/or wind as vectors.
Seasonal color: None, though new pinkish foliage during early spring is a subtle foliar accent.
Temperature: Cold hardy to 25oF.
Light: Full sun
Soil: Prefers soils that are neutral to somewhat acidic and amended with composted organic matter. In Phoenix, soil alkinity will cause foliar interveinal chlorosis, especially if heavily irrigated.
Watering: Regular deep summer irrigations are required.
Pruning: Train and stake java plum vigorously when young to achieve an upright habit.
Propagation: Seed, mechanically scarifiy seed, then soak in water for 24 to 48 hours before sowing.
Disease and pests: Aphids, scale, spider mites.
Additional comments: Java plum is an interesting tropical fruit tree that is rarely seen in Phoenix, but is a tree that is highly desired by tropical fruit afficionados and gardeners. In public settings the smooth trunk of java plum trees invites vandalism. Java plum has strong cultural and religious significance in many parts of the Indian subcontinent and is considered a sacred tree in Hinduism being associated with Lord Shiva.
Biomedicinal uses: Java plum fruits have a high anthocyanin content, and have many traditional uses as a phytochemical for control of diseases such as diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
