Satinleaf fruit

What it is

Satinleaf is Chrysophyllum oliviforme. Its oval or oblong fruit is about 2.5 cm (1 in) long and ripens to purple-black. The pulp has a milky sweetness, with a flavour like dates. Around it sits a rubbery skin, and a ripe fruit takes a lot of chewing.

The tree is easy to notice even without fruit. Each leaf is glossy green on top and covered with copper-coloured fuzz underneath. When the wind turns the leaves, the whole tree seems to shimmer.

Where it comes from

Satinleaf grows in South Florida, the Lucayan islands of the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos, the Greater Antilles and Honduras. In the Lucayan islands it lives in dry evergreen woodland and scrub. In South Florida it grows wild in hardwood hammocks, and it is widely planted there as a street tree.

How it's eaten where it grows

In Florida, ripe satinleaf fruit is eaten raw. The pulp comes away from the seed, which is discarded; the skin can then be chewed like gum. Its rubbery texture makes this a fruit to linger over. The ripe fruit can also be turned into jelly.

How it's grown

Satinleaf is an evergreen tree that grows slowly in full or partial sun. It suits moist, well-drained sand or limestone soil with a layer of organic matter. New plants can be raised from cleaned seeds, planted promptly; germination takes about a month.

The flowers attract insect pollinators, while the fruit feeds birds and other wildlife. In South Florida the tree also grows along streets and in gardens for its two-coloured foliage.

When and where you'll find it

In Florida, satinleaf usually ripens in spring, although the tree flowers throughout the year. It is also a garden tree: Florida's native-plant nurseries and native plant society sales offer it for landscapes. Its shiny green leaves and copper undersides make it recognisable between crops.