Latin name - Synsepalum dulcificum Miracle Fruit Trees make a miraculous addition (don’t laugh!) to a food forest or patio garden. These magical dwarf trees bear clusters of bean-size bright red berries. Each berry is endowed with the power to change sour taste reception to sweet, enabling consumers to eat an entire lemon without even making a sour face! Miracle fruit trees are native to tropical West Africa. They prefer well-draining soil and part-shade, making them an ideal choice for a food forest understory. Botanists at the University of Florida suggest that container-grown Miracle Fruit trees are more productive and healthier than in-ground specimens. Though you can certainly plant your tree directly in the ground, care should be taken to amend soil to achieve a slightly acidic pH. How Does The Berry Work? Miracle berries are filled with miraculin, a glycoprotein molecule that coats the tongue and blocks sour taste receptors for about 30 minutes. This effect is achieved without activating insulin production, making the enjoyment of sweet taste reception safe for diabetic consumers. Miracle Berries, although sweet and flavorful themselves, are considered noncaloric and low-sugar. Though research is still sparse, preliminary studies indicate that Miracle Fruit Berries are shown to improve insulin sensitivity and reduce metallic taste for chemotherapy patients. Unlike some noncaloric sweeteners, miracle berries bear a closer resemblance to the taste of “real” sugar and are often more palatable than sweeteners like stevia. Outside the US, Miracle Fruits are commonly used as sweetener in cocktails, wine, vinegar, pickles, and breads. We recommend planting miracle fruit trees near your favorite sour or tart fruit trees, in order to consume them together intentionally. Trees like carambola, tropical apricot, Barbados Cherry, bilimbi, araza, and lemon drop mangosteen, could benefit from a Miracle Berry friend. Miracle Berries are propagated by seed. All of our Miracle Trees here at Incredible Edible Landscapes are grown from seed. If you intend to propagate, ensure that seed collection is done quickly (within a few days) before desiccation renders the seeds unviable. Prune annually and fertilize regularly for ideal plant growth and fruit set. Avoid alkaline soils and consider keeping your Miracle Berry tree in a container. You can expect to begin harvesting within a year or so of purchase. UF/IFAS suggests that containerized specimens can produce up to 6 crops per year. After eating a miracle fruit berry, try one of these experiments: eat lemons and limes, drink a glass of beer or wine, taste sour cream, and eat your favorite tropical fruits! ___________________________________________________________________ Size - 8’ Tall x 4’ Wide Noteable Characteristics - Container-grow for best plant health; performs miracles. Sunlight requirements - Partial shade Cold hardy temp - Damaged below 40 F; Killed at freezing temps Harvest Season - Year-round with peaks ~every 2 months
