Grow one of the world's most unusual tropical fruit plants. Our Miracle Fruit plants are grown in South Florida by Pepe's Fruit Trees, backed by more than 30 years of tropical fruit-tree growing experience.
One Healthy Florida-Grown Starter Plant
Grown in a tall 3-inch wide × 8-inch deep nursery tree pot.
Hi, I'm Jason “Pepe”, owner of Pepe's Fruit Trees in Davie, Florida. I have more than 30 years of firsthand experience growing tropical and unusual fruit trees in South Florida.
Over the years I have grown many tropical and subtropical fruit plants under South Florida conditions. That experience has taught me how plants respond to our heat, humidity, intense summer sunlight, heavy seasonal rainfall, sandy soils, drying winds and occasional winter cold fronts.
Miracle Fruit has long been one of my favorite unusual tropical plants because it is attractive, naturally compact, well suited to container growing and produces one of the most fascinating fruits you can grow.
One of the most important lessons I have learned growing Miracle Fruit is the importance of maintaining the acidic root environment this plant prefers.
My goal is not simply to sell you a plant. I want you to begin with a healthy starter plant and understand the conditions it needs so you have a better chance of growing it successfully for years to come.
Miracle Fruit (Synsepalum dulcificum) is a tropical evergreen shrub native to West Africa.
It produces small, bright red berries containing a naturally occurring glycoprotein called miraculin.
After eating the pulp of a ripe Miracle Fruit berry, miraculin temporarily changes the way acidic foods are perceived by the taste receptors. Sour foods such as lemons and limes can suddenly taste surprisingly sweet.
The effect is temporary, but it makes Miracle Fruit one of the most entertaining and unusual edible tropical plants for a home garden, patio or tropical fruit collection.
- Grow young Miracle Fruit plants in bright filtered light or partial shade.
- Keep the root zone consistently moist, but never waterlogged.
- Use an acidic, well-draining growing medium.
- Miracle Fruit can struggle when the root environment becomes too alkaline.
- Peat moss can help maintain the acidic growing conditions the plant prefers.
- Rainwater can be useful where irrigation water is alkaline.
- Container growing makes soil pH, moisture and cold protection easier to control.
- Protect young plants from cold weather, drying winds and sudden intense sunlight.
- Miracle Fruit is self-fertile, so one mature plant can produce berries.
One of the biggest challenges with Miracle Fruit is maintaining the acidic root environment it prefers.
Miracle Fruit may begin to struggle when the potting mix or irrigation water gradually becomes too alkaline. This is one reason I like growing young Miracle Fruit plants in containers, where I have much better control over the growing medium, moisture and drainage.
I have also had better results giving young Miracle Fruit plants bright filtered light rather than immediately placing them into harsh South Florida afternoon sun.
Plants can gradually become accustomed to stronger light, but sudden exposure to intense sunlight can damage tender leaves.
Miracle Fruit is naturally slow growing. That can actually be an advantage for the home grower because the plant remains manageable in a container for many years.
With patience and the proper growing conditions, a single plant can eventually flower and produce its distinctive bright red berries.
- One healthy Miracle Fruit starter plant
- Botanical name: Synsepalum dulcificum
- Grown in a tall 3-inch wide × 8-inch deep nursery tree pot
- A young starter plant ready for continued growing
- Grown by Pepe's Fruit Trees in Davie, Florida
Miracle Fruit is one of the tropical fruit plants I especially like for container growing.
Its naturally slow growth makes it easier to maintain on a patio or in a protected growing area than many larger tropical fruit trees.
Container growing also gives you better control over one of the most important requirements for Miracle Fruit: acidic soil.
You can select the growing medium, monitor drainage and moisture, and move the plant into a protected location when unusually cold weather threatens.
Bright filtered light or partial shade is ideal for young Miracle Fruit plants. Avoid suddenly moving a shade-grown plant into intense Florida afternoon sunlight.
Use a rich, airy and well-draining acidic potting mix. Miracle Fruit generally performs well in approximately the pH 4.5 to 5.8 range.
Peat moss can be useful as part of the growing medium because it helps create the acidic conditions Miracle Fruit prefers.
Keep the root zone evenly moist without keeping it continuously saturated. Allow excess water to drain freely from the container.
Water quality can affect Miracle Fruit because consistently alkaline irrigation water may gradually raise the pH of the growing medium.
Rainwater can be especially useful where municipal or well water is alkaline.
Miracle Fruit prefers warm tropical conditions. Protect young plants from unusually cold temperatures and drying winter winds.
Feed conservatively during active growth with a fertilizer appropriate for acid-loving plants.
Avoid excessive fertilizer because sensitive feeder roots can be damaged by heavy applications.
Good drainage is essential. Miracle Fruit likes dependable moisture but does not like stagnant, waterlogged soil.
If a Miracle Fruit plant begins developing yellow leaves or weak growth, I look closely at the root environment before simply adding more fertilizer.
Soil or irrigation water that is too alkaline can interfere with the plant's ability to use certain nutrients efficiently.
Using an acidic potting mix containing peat moss and maintaining appropriate moisture can help provide the conditions Miracle Fruit prefers.
Container growing makes it much easier to control soil acidity, drainage, moisture and water quality than planting directly into unsuitable soil.
Miracle Fruit likes dependable moisture, but there is an important difference between moist soil and waterlogged soil. The roots still need oxygen.
During hot Florida weather, a container may dry much faster than it does during cooler weather.
Adjust watering according to the plant, container size, temperature, rainfall and actual moisture in the pot rather than following a rigid calendar.
During cooler weather, the plant uses water more slowly. Excessive watering during cool conditions can contribute to root problems.
Miracle Fruit develops small flowers followed by elongated berries that become bright red when ripe.
Inside each berry is a relatively large seed surrounded by a thin layer of pulp.
Miracle Fruit is self-fertile, so a second plant is not required for pollination.
Fruiting time varies according to plant age, genetics, temperature, light, nutrition and overall growing conditions.
Miracle Fruit is naturally slow growing, so patience is important.
The unusual effect comes from miraculin, a naturally occurring glycoprotein found in the berry pulp.
Miraculin interacts with taste receptors and changes the perception of acidic foods.
The berry is not adding sugar to lemons, limes or other sour foods. Instead, it temporarily changes how those foods are perceived by your taste receptors.
The effect gradually disappears.
One of the most entertaining uses of ripe Miracle Fruit berries is tasting naturally acidic foods afterward.
Popular foods to experiment with include:
- Lemon
- Lime
- Grapefruit
- Strawberries
- Other naturally tart fruits
Individual taste experiences vary. This information is provided for general horticultural and educational purposes.
- Remove the plant from its shipping package promptly.
- Check the moisture level of the growing medium.
- Place the plant in bright filtered light.
- Do not immediately place it in intense afternoon sun.
- Keep the root zone moist but not waterlogged.
- Protect the plant from strong drying wind.
- Allow the plant time to recover before heavy fertilizing.
- Gradually increase light exposure as the plant becomes established.
Yes. Miracle Fruit grows well in warm areas of Florida when provided with acidic soil, good drainage, dependable moisture, appropriate light and protection from cold weather.
Yes. Container growing is an excellent way to grow Miracle Fruit because it provides greater control over soil acidity, drainage, watering and cold protection.
Young plants generally perform well in bright filtered light or partial shade. A shade-grown plant should not be moved suddenly into intense direct afternoon sunlight.
Miracle Fruit prefers a rich, well-draining acidic growing medium. Peat moss can help create and maintain the acidic root environment the plant prefers.
Miracle Fruit prefers acidic growing conditions. A soil or potting-mix pH of approximately 4.5 to 5.8 is generally suitable.
No. Miracle Fruit is self-fertile, so a single mature plant can flower and produce berries without another plant for cross-pollination.
Yellowing can have several causes, including root stress, excessive moisture, nutritional problems or a growing medium that has become too alkaline. Check drainage, soil moisture, water quality and pH before simply adding more fertilizer.
Yes, but strongly alkaline water may gradually increase the pH of the growing medium. Rainwater can be especially useful where local water is alkaline.
One healthy Miracle Fruit starter plant is $38.88.
The Miracle Fruit starter plant is grown in a tall 3-inch wide × 8-inch deep nursery tree pot.
The plants are grown by Pepe's Fruit Trees in Davie, Florida. Local pickup is available by appointment.
Pepe's Fruit Trees is located in Davie, Florida and specializes in tropical, subtropical and unusual fruit plants.
Owner Jason “Pepe” has more than 30 years of firsthand experience growing fruit trees in South Florida.
My goal is to provide healthy starter plants together with practical growing information based on real experience growing tropical plants under South Florida conditions.
Healthy Florida-grown starter plant in a tall 3" × 8" nursery tree pot.
Live plants naturally vary in height, leaf count, branching and appearance. Photographs are representative and do not guarantee the exact appearance of the plant received.
Growing, flowering and fruiting results vary according to climate, plant age, genetics, soil, water quality, light, nutrition and individual care.
