Naranjilla
Solanum quitoense

Family: Solanaceae

What it is like

A small shrub up to 2 m high. It is hairy or thorny. The leaves are large (60 cm) and angular and hairy on both surfaces. They have thorns along the veins. Young leaves are purple. The flowers are pale violet and 2-4 cm across. The fruit are produced in clusters on the trunk. The fruit is bright orange in colour and covered with short hairs which can be removed by rubbing. The fruit is about 6 cm across. The flesh is yellow-orange to green. It has numerous small edible seeds.

There are about 1400 Solanum species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It suits the highland areas in the tropics. The best altitude is probably 800 to 2000 m. In the Andes it grows between 1,500-2,800 m altitude. The temperatures are 14-22°C. It is frost sensitive. It likes humidity. It grows well with rainfall of 1,500 mm per year. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Andes (country/location of origin), Asia, Australia, Brazil, Central America, Colombia (country/location of origin), Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Hawaii, Indonesia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pacific, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Slovenia, South America, Tasmania, USA, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

Fruit is eaten fresh or used for jams and drinks. The juice is used to flavour ice creams and sherberts.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. Plants are not common in Papua New Guinea, but they are increasing in importance in the highlands.

Edible parts

Fruit, vegetable

How it is grown

They are grown from seeds. Seeds can be bought in stores or collected from the fruit. Seeds germinate in 25-40 days in warm soil. A spacing of 1-2 m is suitable. Plants can be grown from cuttings. Cuttings need to be about 15 cm long. The cuttings should be stored for a few days to allow the cut surfaces to heal before planting. Grafting onto more resistant root stocks is possible.

Plants commence bearing fruit after 6-12 months. They bear fruit throughout the year.

Its other names

Local names

Cua-ton-to, Daboka, Dabuka, Golden fruit of the Andes, Huevo de perro, Kukuch, Lulo, Lulos, Morelle de quito, Naranjilo, Quito orange, Toronja, Uvilla

Synonyms

Solanum angulatum Ruiz & Pav. Solanum macrocarpon Molina Solanum macrocarpon Pav. ex Dunal Solanum nollanum Britton Solanum quitense Kunth Solanum quitoense var. septentrionale R.E.Schult. & Cuatrec. Solanum quitoense f. septentrionale (R.E.Schult. & Cuatrec.) D'Arcy