Are you into rare, exotic fruit trees? How about something unusual to add to your tropical fruit tree collection?
 
Try the Blackberry jam fruit tree!. This unique fruit tree produces fruit that taste exactly just like blackberry jam!. It stays small, does great in a pot and a hard find for sure!. There are very specific growing requirements you must follow to be successful growing this plant. Don't forget to read our growing tips fully!.
 
BlackBerry Jam Fruit Tree Growing Tips:
 
Best time to plant: Unless your native soil is naturally acidic or blue berry plants grow great in your area, never!. Keep this plant potted.
 
Sun: This plant does best in filtered light/shade. If your day temperatures are 90F+ during the growing season, more shade is best. This plant will burn and die in full sun/dry conditions if care is not provided.
 
Winter: Surprisingly this plant can take mid 20F's ambient temperatures as long as you provide wind and frost protection. Colder temperatures, this plant will sustain cold damage and die. If in doubt, it's always best to be proactive and protect your plant.
 
Growth Structure: This is a shrub. It can reach a height of about 3-8ft. This plant will grow an average of 6"to 1ft a year if conditions are optimal.
 
Flowering/Fruiting: It's all about the ambient temperatures around the plant, disregard everything you read elsewhere... This plant usually flowers when night temperatures are around 70F+. For us in Arizona, that's usually around May/June. We've seen plants as short as 1ft tall flower while others didn't flower until around 3ft tall. Every plant is different and conditions around the plant must be met for flowering to happen. Fruits normally take 2-4 months to ripen and they do flower off and on during growing season. During cold weather, they will tend to drop their fruit and not flower at all (Winter). This plant is dioecious which means it requires 2 plants to produce fruit (separate male/female flowers).
 
Root System: Shallow, fibrous roots.
 
Watering: Water frequently, don't let this plant fully dry in hot weather.
 
Fertilization: Any slow-release fertilizer will work. We personally use Osmocote slow-release fertilizer. In containers, a small scoop of sulfur twice a year is more than enough to keep the PH neutral to acidic. Don't overdo it as you will easily damage your plant. In ground, all you need is compost and mulch. Remember, spot treating your native soil with sulfur will NOT work unless you're treating an acre at a time over a period of several years. Plenty of research available on this topic online. Raised beds, treat same as if growing in a container.
 
Container grown: This plant does well in a container due to its ph requirement and type of root system. Actually, we highly recommend you to keep it potted. Only up-pot in increments and when the plant needs it. This plant can stay in a container for a long time before needing up-potting.
 
Personal Growing Tips: This plant is related to Gardenias. If you've ever tried growing one here in the desert, expect the same behavior out of this plant. Expect to treat this plant the same way you would treat a blue berry plant. Great plant to add to any tropical fruit tree collection but be aware you're not buying this plant for fruit production. In non-tropical areas, this plant tends to drop its fruit for various reasons. Here is AZ our fruits drop from the heat, the wind and cold even if the upmost care is provided. We have planted it in ground and also grown them in containers for many years to be able to provide you with this honest review. No, your plant will not die immediately if planted in alkaline soil... Ours took over a year to completely die in 8.5 PH. It never grew and it slowly started to die back from the top.
 
Remember, we're always here to answer any plant question. Don't wait until it's too late to ask questions!!