Cyphomandra betacea

The Tamarillo, or Tree Tomato, is a small tree or shrub in the tomato family grown for its edible fruit. Native to the Andes of South America, the Tamarillo can be found growing in Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Chilea, Argentina and Bolivia. The Tamarillo is a fast growing tree, capable of reaching 15 feet in height, but often is much smaller and well suited to container growing. These trees are known to thrive and produce fruit for up to 12 years and are a fun and exotic alternative to the annual garden tomato. The ripe Tamarillo fruit is a firm, yellow, orange, or red fruit between 2 and 4 inches in length with a distinct tomato flavor with a tart, bright quality. Plants are cold hardy to just below freezing, so should be protected in frost prone climates. Cold hardy to USDA zone 10a and above, or to 30 degrees Fahrenheit.

A South American delicacy which produces edible, egg-shaped fruit that tastes like custardy guavas. If given full sun, our cuttings will flower and fruit quickly. The fruit holds well, and can be harvested from late summer into the winter. This one is as easy-to-grow as the garden tomato.

Tree Tomato is hardy to zone 9 but can be grown in containers and will produce 2-3" edible egg shaped fruit. May be eaten raw or cooked, the meaty watery pulp tastes like juicy custardy guavas. Used in salads, preserves, jams, jellies, etc. In April to May, self fertile fragrant pink flowers appear which produce the fruit that ripens in October to January. Likes sun. Unusual. Fruit color ranges from orange to red to purple.

This “novelty” member of the tomato family very rapidly makes a magnificent bold foliage plant 10-12’ tall & 6-8’ wide, bearing softly hairy, shiny leaves over 12” long by 9” wide. Open branched, this tree-like shrub bears pinky-purple flowers & long lasting tomato-like edible fruit that you can eat fresh or cooked. It is only hardy down to 41° F. so it will have to be protected in Winter. Rich, well-drained soil is best.