Juicy Pearl
This tree is assumed to be the Chrysophyllum argentium auratum
Grown from seedling.
The Juicy Pearl is a relative of the Star Apple tree. Unlike Star Apples there is not the darker under-leaf colour; they are smaller than Star Apples and the fruit has thinner skin.
The fruit has only a single seed (although many are seedless) and are lovely to eat. The peak fruiting time is spring and summer. It is not a fruit you can generally find at the shops.
There are only a few confirmed trees in Australia. Alva and DPI Gold Star Apples are as good as each other in quality with low latex and high quality; the Juicy Pearl is just different but nice; it is quite milky and the latex is not tenacious. They are heavy bearers - most Juicy Pearls are 150g to 250g with some more than 350g and they are flattened on the poles.
Tree Provenance
This is a seedling tree purchased from Queensland. Seedling trees often add an element of mystery to eventual fruit quality. The parent tree for this one has a reputation for producing excellent fruit at a different time of year to its close cousin, the Star Apple.
Tree Maintenance
Pruning
This tree is assumed to be the Chrysophyllum argentium auratum
Grown from seedling.
The Juicy Pearl is a relative of the Star Apple tree. Unlike Star Apples there is not the darker under-leaf colour; they are smaller than Star Apples and the fruit has thinner skin.
The fruit has only a single seed (although many are seedless) and are lovely to eat. The peak fruiting time is spring and summer. It is not a fruit you can generally find at the shops.
There are only a few confirmed trees in Australia. Alva and DPI Gold Star Apples are as good as each other in quality with low latex and high quality; the Juicy Pearl is just different but nice; it is quite milky and the latex is not tenacious. They are heavy bearers - most Juicy Pearls are 150g to 250g with some more than 350g and they are flattened on the poles.
Tree Provenance
This is a seedling tree purchased from Queensland. Seedling trees often add an element of mystery to eventual fruit quality. The parent tree for this one has a reputation for producing excellent fruit at a different time of year to its close cousin, the Star Apple.
Tree Maintenance
Pruning
- Prune immediately after harvest to maintain a height of 3m, remove dead branches.
- Spring: liquid seaweed, compost around drip line, worm wee (10:1).
- Summer: liquid seaweed, sulphate of potash.
- Winter: liquid seaweed, compost around drip line.
Juicy Pearl at LCG January 2025 (photo credit: Jacqui Lachmann)
'Juicy Pearl' at LCG August 2022 (photo credit: Graham Bond)
