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A fruiting tree from southern Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uraguay. Mine was grown by a friend from seed originating in Brazil (as V. montevidensis). The fleshy, cherry-like fruits are used as a bait in fishing
so I don't mind that it is slow growing. Might be hardy here but probably needs a warm summer to really grow. I grow it at the foot of a south facing wall and it is just warm enough to make a bit of extra growth each year. The hot summer of 2026 helped it enormously (with some additional watering). Huertas Urbanas say: "Vitex megapotamica, commonly known as Tarumã, is a deciduous tree native to South America, particularly found in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. This species typically reaches heights of 10 to 25 meters, with a trunk diameter ranging from 40 to 60 cm. The tree is adorned with compound leaves and produces small, abundant flowers that give way to fleshy, dark purple to black drupes resembling olives." Useful Tropical Plants say: "The edible fruits are gathered from the wild and consumed locally, though they are not greatly appreciated. The plant is also cultivated for medicinal use in Brazil. A very ornamental tree, it can be used in landscaping and for street planting. Vitex megapotamica has a very wide distribution, large population, is not currently experiencing any major threats and no significant future threats have been identified. " |
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| 17th August 2017 | ||
