Bring a refreshing tropical treat to your garden with the Red Wax Jambu Tree, also known as Wax Apple or Java Apple. Its glossy red fruit makes a beautiful addition to the harvest basket—and an inviting snack to enjoy while strolling through your food forest.
If you love discovering fruits that rarely appear in the grocery store, wax jambu offers another reason to grow your own.
Fruit Taste & Texture
Wax jambu has white to off-white flesh with a crisp, juicy texture and a mild, delicate flavor. Sweetness varies with the selection, ripeness, and growing conditions.
Enjoy it fresh, chilled, sliced into salads, or alongside your favorite meals.
Fruit Appearance
The red fruit has thin, glossy skin and a distinctive bell-like shape. Inside, the pale flesh surrounds a small central cavity that may contain seeds.
This listing is for a red-fruited wax jambu; a named cultivar is not specified.
Tree Appearance & Garden Planning
Wax jambu is an evergreen tropical tree with a spreading canopy and clusters of pale flowers. Allow sufficient room for its mature growth and convenient access for harvesting.
Red Wax Jambu Tree Care
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Sunlight: Choose a full-sun location.
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Soil: Provide fertile soil with good drainage.
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Watering: Water consistently while establishing; adjust to rainfall and soil moisture.
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Mulching: Apply organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.
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Fertilizing: Follow suitable tropical-fruit fertilizer guidance and label rates.
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Pruning: Prune selectively to manage the canopy and remove damaged branches.
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Cold Protection: Protect young trees during freezing weather.
Growing Wax Jambu in Florida
In Palm Bay and other parts of Central Florida, choose a warm, sheltered microclimate and plan for winter protection. Wax jambu is cold-sensitive, so protection is an important part of caring for this tropical tree.
Harvest Season
A general Florida harvest guide is April–June. Actual timing varies with the tree, location, and weather.
Harvest fruit when ready to eat. Enjoy it fresh or refrigerate promptly.
Plan Your Harvest Before You Plant.
Use The Island Gardeners Harvest Planner to compare wax jambu’s expected season with your other fruit trees. Add your tree to My Food Forest and record its actual harvest dates as your garden develops.
Grow what you eat. Eat what you grow.
Quick Growing Information
| Detail |
Information |
| Plant Name |
Red Wax Jambu Tree |
| Common Names |
Wax Apple, Java Apple |
| Botanical Name |
Syzygium samarangense |
| Family |
Myrtaceae |
| Origin |
Southeast Asia / Malay Archipelago |
| Selection |
Red-fruited type; cultivar unspecified |
| Tree Type |
Tropical evergreen |
| Mature Size |
A substantial spreading tree; species descriptions report approximately 16–50 feet |
| Fruit Skin |
Red and glossy |
| Flesh |
White to off-white |
| Texture & Flavor |
Crisp, juicy, mild |
| Sunlight |
Full sun |
| Soil |
Fertile, with good drainage |
| Watering |
Consistent during establishment |
| Typical Florida Harvest |
April–June |
| Harvest Planner Months |
April, May, June as a general guide |
| Pollination |
Flowers are bisexual; confirm the nursery selection’s fruiting performance |
| Time to Fruiting |
Depends on propagation, tree maturity, and conditions; confirm with nursery stock details |
| Cold Protection |
Important during freezing weather |
| Best For |
Protected tropical gardens, backyard orchards, and food forests |
FAQ
What does Red Wax Jambu taste like?
It has crisp, juicy flesh and a mild, delicate flavor. Sweetness varies between selections and with ripeness.
When does wax jambu harvest in Florida?
April–June is a general Florida guide. Your tree’s timing may differ with location and weather.
Can I grow wax jambu in Palm Bay?
Choose a warm, sheltered location and provide winter protection. Wax jambu is sensitive to freezing temperatures.
Is wax jambu the same as Jamaican Otaheite apple?
No. Wax jambu is Syzygium samarangense. Otaheite or Malay apple is Syzygium malaccense, a different species.
Is this a named cultivar?
This listing is for a red-fruited wax jambu. A named cultivar is not specified unless identified in the product options.
Am I purchasing fruit or a tree?
This listing is for a live tree. Refer to your selected product option for the container size and nursery stock details.
