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Bunchosia glandulifera: Peanut Butter Fruit

Amir Rezazadeh
Other Contacts: Keighly Graves

Introduction

Our intended audience encompasses individuals passionate about sustainable agriculture, horticulturalists interested in exotic species, and culinary adventurers eager to explore new flavors. With a blend of informative content and practical advice, this publication endeavors to equip readers with the knowledge needed to successfully grow and harvest peanut butter fruit.

Peanut butter fruit tree, alternatively referred to as Monk's plum, is an evergreen tree that blooms perennially and originates from Central and South America. This tree has a rounded growth habit and reaches a height and spread of 10–15 feet (Figure 1). The leaves are sparsely covered in fine hair (sericeous) and have uneven margins (Figure 2). In the springtime, this plant produces clusters of small yellow flowers, characteristic of the Malpighiaceae family (Figure 3). Beyond its visually appealing features, this tree is known for producing petite orange-red fruit, approximately 1 inch in diameter, characterized by a dense pulp, slight moisture content, and a sweet fragrance and taste reminiscent of peanut butter (Figure 4). In Brazil, this fruit is recognized as “caferana” due to its resemblance to coffee. While the peanut butter tree has the capacity to grow to a height of 23–26 feet as an evergreen, regular pruning can maintain it at a more compact size.

Young peanut butter fruit tree.
Figure 1. Full Form—Bunchosia glandulifera: peanut butter fruit tree
Credit: Amir Rezazadeh, UF/IFAS
Leaves on the branches of a peanut butter fruit tree that are oval-shaped, light in color, pinnately arranged, and ruffled on the edges.
Figure 2. Leaf—Bunchosia glandulifera: peanut butter fruit tree
Credit: Amir Rezazadeh, UF/IFAS
Close-up of yellow flowers and buds among the leaves of a peanut butter fruit tree.
Figure 3. Flower—Bunchosia glandulifera: peanut butter fruit tree
Credit: Amir Rezazadeh, UF/IFAS
Immature yellow-green fruit growing from a stem among large leaves of a peanut butter fruit tree.
Figure 4. Fruit—Bunchosia glandulifera: peanut butter fruit tree
Credit: Amir Rezazadeh, UF/IFAS

General Information

Scientific name: Bunchosia glandulifera

Pronunciation: bun-CHOH-see-uh glan-dyoo-LIF-er-uh

Common name(s): peanut butter fruit, monk’s plum

Family: Malpighiaceae

Plant type: tree

USDA hardiness zone: 10A–11B (Figures 5 and 6)

Planting month for zones 10 and 11: year-round

Origin: native to Central America and South America

Invasive potential: not known to be invasive

Uses: fruit; specimen

Availability: grown in small quantities by a small number of nurseries and available for purchase in Florida from various online and local nurseries

Hardiness zone map showing growth capabilities of the tree in parts of central-south Florida, southern California, and southern Texas.
Figure 5. The shaded area represents potential planting zones: USDA Hardiness Zones 10A–11A. Though not pictured on this map, 11B is also a potential planting zone.
Credit: Adapted from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. See the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for specific zone information.
Hardiness zone map showing that the tree can grow is parts of central and south Florida.
Figure 6. The shaded area represents potential planting zones in the Southeast region: USDA Hardiness Zones 10A–11A. Though not pictured on this map, 11B is also a potential planting zone.
Credit: Adapted from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. See the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for specific zone information.

Description

Height: 10–15 feet

Spread: 10–15 feet

Plant habit: round

Plant density: moderate

Growth rate: moderate

Texture: coarse

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: opposite

Leaf type: simple

Leaf margin: entire

Leaf shape: oblong

Leaf venation: pinnate

Leaf type and persistence: evergreen

Leaf blade length: 4–8 inches

Leaf color: green

Fall color: no fall color change

Fall characteristic: not showy

Flower

Flower color: yellow

Flower characteristic: spring flowering

Fruit

Fruit shape: oval

Fruit length: less than 0.5 inches

Fruit cover: sericeous

Fruit color: orange-red

Fruit characteristic: showy; edible

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: not particularly showy; generally multi-trunked but can be grown as a single-trunk tree

Current year stem/twig color: brown

Current year stem/twig thickness: medium

Culture

Light requirement: full sun

Soil tolerances: soil can be neutral or slightly acidic; sand

Drought tolerance: low

Soil salt tolerances: unknown

Plant spacing: 10–15 feet

Use and Management

The peanut butter tree is a perennial flowering tree that bears small red-orange fruit ideal for eating fresh, as well as for making jellies, jams, or preserves. This tree thrives in fertile soil and requires either full sun or light shade. It is not resilient to drought. Space the plants 10–15 feet apart. Typically, propagation is done using seeds or stem cuttings. Seeds may germinate within two to four weeks.

Pests and Diseases

There are no pests or diseases of major concern. Aphids and spider mites are minor pests.