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Can you tell anything about a shrub I purchased for my Florida residence? The nursery called the shrub the miracle bush or Christmas berry.

Last Updated: January 18, 2012

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The fruit is commonly known as miracle fruit, and its scientific name is Synsepalum dulcificum. It is a native of western Africa. The plant is a small tree, evergreen, slow growing, with little tolerance to adverse conditions such as wind, salt, drought, or flooding. It prefers an acidic soil. Being tropical in nature, it has virtually no cold tolerance. It is grown in dooryards in south Florida, primarily as a novelty and then only because miracle fruit affects the taste buds, making sour, tart, or acidic food eaten soon after taste sweet.

You may want to double check with the nursery to be sure what shrub you purchased.  Common names can be confusing.  There is another plant, Lycium carolinanum which also called Christams Berry.

Browse related Faqs by tag: horticulture, ornamental shrubs, fruits and nuts, zone 11, synsepalum dulcificum, africa, miracle fruit, taste buds, lycium carolinanum


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