Solanum betaceum

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Tamarillo

Solanum betaceum. It's a tree...in the tomato family. The oval fruit is about the size of a Roma tomato, and it has a recognizable tomato taste, though it's somewhat milder and tarter. The flower is always lavender-pink, but the fruit can be yellow, purple, orange, or red depending on the tree. While the tomato tree seems to have originated in the Andes, it's now grown widely in South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia as a food source. The skin is quite thick, so to eat it fresh you have to scoop out the flesh. It can also be cooked as a vegetable side dish, added to soups and stews, made into preserves and added to salads.

It's a half woody tree, and shallow rooted, so even in its native habitat it's short lived and vulnerable to wind damage. As a subtropical, it needs sun, warmth, and perhaps because of its mountain heritage, good drainage is a must.

Soil:
Moderate
Plant Shape:
Upright
Exposure:
Full Sun
Bloom Time:
May - June
July - August
Bloom Color:
Pink
Lavender
Landscape Use:
Specimen Plant
Plant Type:
Shrub
Hardiness Zone:
10 - 11