Blue Sour Plum – 5 Seeds

Small Blue Sour Plum (Ximenia americana) is a spiny shrub that bears brightly colored, edible fruits. It is one of the most valuable wild edible plants in the world. In different countries, it is utilized as food, medicine, an essential oil source, and as a component in the production of other products. It is known to naturally occur in tropical America, Asia and Africa, covering the northern and eastern parts of South Africa, as well as the southern and western parts of Africa.

The shrub or small tree can grow up to 6m in height, with the branches normally arching downwards, often armed with straight spines. The shrub can be grown as a hedge if pruned properly. In spring it produces small, greenish white, fragrant flowers, borne on short shoots.

This is followed by oval, shiny, light green fruits that grow up to 30mm long, and turn yellow, orange or red when ripe. When ripe, the fruit has a green, juicy pulp and the flavor is said to be bitter and almond like. Fruit production takes place once the tree is about 3 years old.

Common names: small blue sourplum, hog plum (Eng.); kleinblousuurpruim (Afr.); ukolotshane, umtunduluka-omncane, umkholotshwana (Zul.);umtfundvuluka, umthunduluka (Swa.); ntsengele (Tso.); morotologana (Tsw.); morotologa, motshidi, hwele, mosidi-wa-serotologane (N.So.); mutanzwa (Ven.) holotshani (Nde.)

Culinary Uses:

• The fruit is eaten raw or pickled, and can be used to replace lemon in fish recipes.
• The fruit is also used to make juice, jams or alcoholic drinks.
• In South Africa, a kind of beer is made from the fruits.
• The kernel of the fruit can be made into oil, which is used in cooking as a substitute for butter or ghee.
• In Asia, the young leaves are cooked as a vegetable.

Medicinal Uses:
It has been reported to be used to treat a large number of diseases, including measles, malaria, skin infections, sexually transmitted diseases, diarrhea, muscle cramps, lung abscesses, colds, fevers and much more.

Growing Blue Sour Plum

Indoor Sowing: Summer.

Direct Sowing: Late Spring and Summer.

• Soak the seeds in lukewarm water for 12 – 24 hours.
• Plant the seeds in mixture of 5 parts soil and 1 part compost.
• Place the container in are with bright light and keep the soil mixture constantly moist, but not wet.
• Optimal germination temperature is 26-36°C. Germination can take 30 days or longer.
• Once the seedling has produced the second-phase of leaves, it is ready for transplanting.