Borojo
Borojoa patinoi

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

Borojo or Borojo patinoi is a small, tropical, evergreen shrub that grows up to 5 m high and is found in Northwestern South America. It is a dioecious species cultivated for its edible fruit that can be eaten raw or made into juice, jellies, preserves, etc. The fruit is also tonic and has many other medicinal uses. Found In: Amazon, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nauru, Panama, South America.

Borojoa patinoi is an evergreen Tree growing to 8 m (26ft) by 6 m (19ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) or semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 8

Where it is found

Lowland rainforests, usually at elevations up to 700 metres but occasionally to 1,200 metres..

Northwestern S. America - Colombia and Brazil, north through Central America to Nicaragua.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Countries/locations it is found in

Found In: Amazon, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nauru, Panama, South America.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 4

Fruit - eaten raw or made into jellies, preserves, sauces, ice cream etc. A sweet, aromatic flavour with some bitterness. The green to brown fruit is 7 - 12 cm in diameter with a brown pulp that is very acid and dense. The fruit pulp is used to prepare juice (jugo del amor), compotes, marmalades, candies and wine.

Drink: not including plant saps, tea or coffee substitutes.

Medicine

Rating: 2

The fruit is prized for its tonic and cure-all qualities. It is famous in western Colombia for its supposed aphrodisiac properties.

Aphrodisiac: Increases the sexual appetite.

Other

Rating: 0

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

How it is grown

A plant of warm tropical lowlands usually at elevations up to 700 metres, but sometimes to 1,200 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures fall within the range 20 - 28°c, though it can tolerate 15 - 32°c. Temperatures in its native region may reach up to an absolute maximum of 41°c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 3,000 - 6,000mm, tolerating 2,500 - 9,000mm. It thrives with high air humidity average up to almost 90%. Succeeds in heavy soils. Prefers a pH in the range 4.5 - 6.5, tolerating 4 - 7. The fruit takes more than one year to ripen after flowering. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Propagating it: Seed

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Full shade, semi-shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Borojo or Borojo patinoi.

Synonyms

Alibertia patinoi (Cuatrec.) Delprete & C.H.Perss.