The Governor's Plum Flacourtia indica is a large shrub or
small tree native to tropical Africa and Asia. Plants are very attractive,
with deep green glossy leathery leaves, and many varieties have large sharp
spines. Plants grow rapidly, often five to seven feet a year, and produce
during the late summer large quantities of fruits about one inch in diameter
which are purplish-red or blackish at maturity. Fruit pulp is a deep yellowish-orange
with anywhere from eight to ten small flattened seeds.
Trees are used often for hedges because spiny types provide good
security or can be trained into a small tree. Generally, flowers are produced
during the late spring or early summer and the fruit mature a month or two
later. Trees prefer full sun for best growth but will tolerate light shading.
The governor's plum is tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions, and also
will tolerate some light salt spray.
Plants generally need pruning at least once or twice a year to keep
from becoming too overgrown. Propagation of this plant is by seeds, cuttings,
air layering, or by occasional suckers. The fruits cannot be eaten until
fully ripe. Otherwise, they are highly astringent. Fruits make excellent
fresh eating, though, when mature, or can be used for a high-quality jelly
or jam.
When grown from seed, many varieties tend to be one sex, so you may
not have a high percentage of female plants. For this reason, most nurseries
propagate this plant by cuttings or air layering from female or large-bearing
trees.
When grown as a hedge, it's good to have several male plants in the
hedge to provide pollination and increase fruit production. Single trees
isolated from other governor's plum bear fruit. These female trees will bear
larger quantities of fruit if a male tree is in the same landscape or close
by.
© 2000 BGCII Page posted March 2004
