Red star apple, Bluebush star-apple, Quilted bluebush, Karoo blue bush
Diospyros lycioides

Family: Ebenaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small evergreen tree. It can be 3-7 m tall. The bark is dark grey and smooth. It can have several stems. There are 4 different types base on leaf shape and venation. The leaves are simple and alternate. They are leathery. They are usually crowded near the ends of branches. The flowers are bell-shaped. They are white or yellow. The flowers have a sweet smell and hand downwards. The fruit are round or oblong and 2 cm long. They are bright red and fleshy. The seeds are oblong and smooth with a groove along them. There are 2 subspecies.

There are about 485 species of Diospyros mostly in the tropics.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It can tolerate drought and frost. It grows between 600-1,000 m above sea level in southern Africa, It does well in a sandy soil. It can grow in slightly salty soils. It can grow in arid places. It grows in Miombo woodland in Africa. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. Wittunga Botanical Gardens. Mt Lofty Botanical Gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Australia, Botswana, Central Africa, East Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten sometimes by children. They are bitter. The fruit are also fermented and distilled to produce brandy. The seeds are roasted for coffee.

Edible parts

Seeds - coffee, fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds. Seeds germinate fairly easily. It can be cut back and will re-grow.

It has a fast growth rate.

Its other names

Local names

Bloubos, Blue bush, Lethlajwa, Lomhlophe, Monkey plum, Mushumadombo, Muthala, Ndima, Oshimumu, Transvaal bluebush, Umcafudane, Umchafutane limhlophe, Umchafutane, Umqathuva

Synonyms

Royenia decidua Burch.; Royenia lycioides (Desf.) A. DC.; Royenia cuneifolia E. Mey ex A. DC.;