Downy myrtle, Ceylon Hill Cherry
Rhodomyrtus tomentosa

Family: Myrtaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 1-2 m tall. The leaves are opposite, leathery and pointed at the base and slightly pointed at the tip. They are hairy underneath. The leaves have 3 veins. The flowers are showy. They are pink and have S shaped petals. They occur in the axils of leaves. The fruit are small yellow berries. They can be greenish-purple. They contain several seeds. The flesh is sweet.

It can be invasive.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It suits cool tropical and subtropical conditions. It grows in shrubby savannas. It grows in wet forests up to 2,400 m above sea level. Found only in northern Luzon and the Babuyanes islands in the Philippines. It can tolerate wet soil conditions. It can grow in acid soils with pH 4-5. It cannot tolerate frost. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia (country/location of origin), Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, North America, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Singapore, South America, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, USA, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The fleshy layer of the fruit is eaten raw. It is also cooked and used in pies and jam. They are also preserved.

The fruit are sold in markets. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit, flowers

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. It can also be grown by division of the plant. It can be grown by cuttings.

It produces fruit in 3-4 years. Fruit mature in 60 days.

Its other names

Local names

Bekakangal, Dayopod-mabolo, Downy myrtle, Downy rhodomyrtus, Downy rosemyrtle, Harendong sabrang, Hill-gooseberry, Kamuting, Karamunting, Kemuntian, Kemunting, Kemuting, Keramunsing, Keramunting, Keremunting, Koratta, Phruat, Phruat-kinluk, Pouch uol, Pourch, Puech, Puoch, Rose myrtle, Sim, Thabutu pazham, Thoh, To, Trobek-prey, Tu-pruet

Synonyms

Myrtus tomentosa Aiton; Myrtus canescens Lour.; Check Rhodomyrtus parviflorus;