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Kei Apple Dovyalis caffra a.k.a. Umkolo Bright yellow to
orange fruit with similar colored flesh having a acidic flavor.
The fruits are very juicy and resemble small flattened apricots. picture is of the tropical apricot, a hybrid derived from the kei apple |
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Uses |
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Fruits are often sprinkled with sugar and eaten fresh. They can also be used in a variety of desserts. |
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Plant Cultivation |
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A subtropical shrub or tree, capable of surviving temperatures to
20F. The plants contain prominent spikes on the branches. Kei apple's
are both drought and salt tolerant and are often used as coastal landscaping
shrubs. For the most part, both male and female plants are required
for fruit set. There are some female trees that will bear without a
male. Trees exhibit allelopathy and will inhibit the growth of other
plants nearby. Fruiting is generally very intense, with fruits lining
the branches for several months during the summer. |
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Origin and Distribution |
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Native to the Kei River region of Southwest Africa. The Kei Apple has adapted to subtropical regions throughout the world and is sometimes planted for ornamental purposes in Florida, California, and Southern Europe. |
