PlantPeers
Back to Catalog
Syzygium cumini
Myrtaceae FAMILY

Syzygium cumini

Syzygium cumini

Edibility
3/5
Medicinal
3/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitEvergreen Shrub
GrowthFast

A plant of the tropics and subtropics, where it is found at elevations up to 2,000 metres[1, 2]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 32°c, but can tolerate 12 - 48°c[2]. Mature growth can be killed by temperatures of -2°c or lower, whilst young growth is killed at -1°c[2]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,500 - 6,000mm, but tolerates 800 - 9,900mm[2]. Plants can withstand a dry season of up to 6 - 7 months[2]. Although it prefers a sunny position, plants are moderately shade-tolerant, especially when young[1, 2]. A very versatile plant able to grow on a wide range of soils, it can even grow on shallow, rocky soils provided the rainfall is sufficient[1, 2]. It tolerates prolonged flooding, and once established, it can tolerate drought[1]. In dry sites, it generally confines itself to the vicinity of watercourses[1]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7, tolerating 4.5 - 8[2]. Plants are tolerant of quite strong winds[3]. Trees self-sow freely and may become serious pests in pastures[1]. The plant is listed as undesirable in Florida[4]. A fast-growing plant[5, 6]. Seedlings may reach a height of 4 metres in only 2 years[1, 2]. The tree coppices remarkably well; vigorous shoots are produced in large numbers from small and large stumps alike. Coppice stands along streams have been reported that grew to 4.6 metres in 4 years[1]. The best forms are frequently cultivated in Java and Florida[1].

Propagation

Seed - freshly collected seeds are normally sown in nursery beds at a depth of 20 - 25mm during the rainy season and germinate in 2 - 4 weeks at a rate 20 - 90%[1]. Plants are pricked out when 6 - 9 months old into beds 30 x 30 cm[1]. For development of seedlings, moisture is even more important than shade, as seedlings in the sun develop well, provided the soil is kept moist, but seedlings in the shade die if the soil is dry[1]. Seedlings are somewhat frost tender, particularly on grassy ground, where they are frequently killed back[303. Sapling growth is faster than seedling growth. Seedlings 1-3 years old can be planted out without any difficulty[1]. Air-layering. Grafting. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Syzygium+cumini>

Pollinators

Bees, Flies, Wind

References

  1. [1]World Agroforesty Centre — http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ ↩︎An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
  2. [2]Ecocrop — http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home ↩︎Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
  3. [3]Plant Resources of Southeast Asia — http://proseanet.org/ ↩︎Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
  4. [4]Tropical and Subtropical Trees - A Worldwide Encyclopaedic Guide. — Barwick. M. · Thames & Hudson, London · 2004 · ISBN 0-500-51181-0 ↩︎A superb book, very concise and well written, giving a wealth of information on 400 or more species including descriptions, habitat, cultivation details and plant uses. A wealth of colour photographs bring each plant vividly to life.
  5. [5]Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics : an Inventory — Martin, F. W.; Campbell, C. W.; Rubertbe, R. M. · U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service · 1987 ↩︎A booklet giving terse details of almost 300 species of edible fruits, plus regional lists of Botanical and Common names for over 2,500 less well-known edible fruits of the tropics.
  6. [6]Brazilian Fruits and Cultivated Exotics — Lorenzi. H.; Bacher. L.; Lacerda. M.; Sartori. S. · Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora LTDA; Brazil. · 2000 · ISBN 85-867174-24-0 ↩︎A superb book, giving information on several hundred fruit species. Each entry has a brief description of the plant and its uses, accompanied by one to many excellent quality photographs of the fruits.
  7. [7]Biotik, Laos — http://biotik.org/species_list_laos.html ↩︎Information on more than 100 species of Laotian trees.
  8. [8]Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants — http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 ↩︎Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
  9. [9]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  10. [10]Cornucopia II — Facciola. S. · Kampong Publications, California. · 1998 · ISBN 0-9628087-2-5 ↩︎The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc. , 303.
  11. [11]Medicinal Plants of the Guianas — DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J. · Smithsonian Museum · http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html ↩︎A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
  12. [12]The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants — Chevallier. A. · Dorling Kindersley. London · 1996 · ISBN 9-780751-303148 ↩︎An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.
  13. [13]Plants and People of Nepal — Manandhar. N. P. · Timber Press. Oregon. · 2002 · ISBN 0-88192-527-6 ↩︎Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.