Overview

Bring the taste of the tropics to your home with the hog plum live plant. This vibrant specimen, botanically known as Spondias purpurea and commonly called Mombin, offers not only lush foliage but also a bounty of delicious, edible fruit. Originating from Central America, the hog plum live plant is a fascinating addition for any gardener looking to grow unique fruit trees. These trees are known for their distinctive fruiting habit, where flowers and fruit emerge directly from the branches, creating a striking visual display. Whether you’re an experienced horticulturist or a budding enthusiast, growing a hog plum live plant provides a rewarding experience, culminating in flavorful fruit that can be enjoyed fresh or used in traditional culinary preparations.

The mombin fruit tree is a deciduous plant, meaning it sheds its leaves in winter, entering a dormant phase. As spring arrives, it awakens with a beautiful flush of flowers before producing its characteristic fruit. This cycle adds seasonal interest to your garden. Our hog plum live plant is carefully nurtured to ensure it arrives healthy and ready to establish itself in its new home, promising years of enjoyment and a steady supply of this exotic fruit.

Key Benefits

The hog plum live plant offers a multitude of benefits for both the gardener and the home. From its unique ornamental qualities to its culinary versatility, this plant is a true gem.

• Delicious Edible Fruit: Enjoy a seasonal harvest of sweet-tart hog plums, perfect for fresh consumption, making preserves, or pickling. The fruit of the mombin fruit tree is a culinary delight, offering a distinctive flavor.
• Unique Ornamental Appeal: The way the flowers and fruit emerge directly from the branches creates an unusual and attractive display, adding exotic flair to your landscape. This characteristic makes the hog plum live plant a conversation starter.
• Tropical Garden Accent: Ideal for creating a tropical ambiance in your garden or patio, especially in warmer climates. The lush green foliage provides a vibrant backdrop throughout the growing season.
• Adaptable Growth: While preferring warmer climates, the Spondias purpurea is relatively resilient and can be grown in containers in cooler zones, allowing for protection during colder months.
• Pollinator Friendly: The spring flowers attract pollinators, contributing to the biodiversity and health of your garden ecosystem.
• Cultural Significance: Often used in East Indian cooking, growing this plant allows you to explore diverse culinary traditions right from your backyard.
• Sustainable Food Source: Cultivating your own fruit reduces reliance on store-bought produce and provides fresh, organic options.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your hog plum live plant, or spondias purpurea, is straightforward, especially if you provide the right conditions from the start. These trees thrive in full sun, requiring at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily to ensure optimal fruit production. In hotter climates, some afternoon shade can be beneficial to prevent leaf scorch. When it comes to watering, the hog plum live plant prefers consistently moist soil, especially during its active growing and fruiting seasons. However, it’s crucial to avoid waterlogging, which can lead to root rot. Allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out slightly between waterings.

The ideal soil for a hog plum live plant is well-draining, fertile loam with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Incorporating organic matter, such as compost, can significantly improve soil structure and nutrient content. These trees are sensitive to cold temperatures, with a damage threshold around 27°F. If you live in a region with colder winters, consider growing your tropical fruit plant in a large container that can be moved indoors or protected during frost events. Fertilize your hog plum live plant with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring and again in mid-summer to support vigorous growth and fruit development. Pruning can be done to maintain shape, remove dead or diseased branches, and encourage better air circulation, which helps prevent fungal issues.

Watch for common pests like aphids or scale insects, and treat them promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Good air circulation and proper watering practices are key to preventing most diseases. Remember that the trees go dormant in winter, shedding all leaves, which is a natural part of their life cycle. Don’t be alarmed; new growth will emerge in spring, followed by flowers and fruit within 45-60 days.

Size & Details

This offering is for one robust hog plum live plant, standing approximately 2 to 3 feet tall from the base of the pot to the tip of its tallest stem. Each hog plum live plant is carefully cultivated and shipped in a 3-gallon nursery pot, providing ample root space for healthy establishment. The average mature height and width of a mombin fruit tree can reach around 15 feet by 15 feet when planted in the ground in ideal conditions, though it can be maintained smaller with proper pruning or when grown in a container. The fruit season typically runs from May to July, providing a summer harvest.

Our plants are selected for their vigor and health, ensuring you receive a premium spondias purpurea ready to thrive. The 3-gallon pot size provides a well-developed root system, minimizing transplant shock and accelerating its growth once planted. Expect your new tropical fruit plant to produce fruit within a few years under optimal growing conditions, offering a delightful and unique addition to your edible landscape.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: This hog plum live plant is currently 2 to 3 feet tall and shipped in a 3-gallon pot. When mature, it can reach an average height and width of 15 feet by 15 feet in the ground, but can be kept smaller with pruning or container growing.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The hog plum live plant is primarily an outdoor plant in USDA zones 9 and above. In colder climates, it can be grown in a container and brought indoors during winter to protect it from frost, making it a versatile tropical fruit plant.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: Your spondias purpurea requires full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day, for best growth and fruit production.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the hog plum live plant is considered relatively easy to care for once established. It requires consistent watering, good drainage, and protection from freezing temperatures. Providing these basic needs will ensure a healthy, productive tree.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your hog plum live plant will arrive as a healthy, live specimen, well-rooted in its 3-gallon nursery pot, carefully packaged to minimize stress during transit.
• Q: How long until it blooms and fruits? A: After dormancy, the tree will flower in spring, with fruit following in approximately 45-60 days. Typically, a young mombin fruit tree like this one will start producing fruit within 2-3 years.
• Q: What’s the minimum temperature this plant can tolerate? A: The hog plum live plant is sensitive to cold and can sustain damage at temperatures below 27°F. It’s best to protect it from frost.
• Q: Can I grow the hog plum in a container? A: Absolutely! Growing your hog plum live plant in a large container is an excellent option for those in cooler climates, allowing you to move it indoors during winter. Ensure the container has good drainage.
• Q: What are the best uses for hog plums? A: Hog plums are versatile! They are commonly eaten fresh, made into preserves, or pickled green, especially in East Indian cooking. It’s a delightful addition for anyone interested in a tropical fruit plant.
• Q: What kind of soil does it prefer? A: The spondias purpurea thrives in well-draining, fertile soil. A good quality potting mix with added organic matter is ideal for container growing, while garden soil should be amended to ensure good drainage.