Sheila Shea wrote:
>
> >Thomas E. Billings wrote:
> >>
> >> Muntingia calabura, the strawberry tree. A small tree native to the Amazon
> >> basin but now naturalized in a number of other locations, world-wide.
> >
> >Do you think it could be related to the tree/shrub of the same name
> >that is often grown in the San Francisco bay area as a landscaping
> >plant?  I've never given it much attention, but its fruit is a bit
> >prickly, I think.  Otherwise, it is much as you describe.  I don't
> >know its scientific name, unfortunately.
> >
> >Carol
>
> Hi Carol,
> I had a muntingia tree in my front yard on Ocean Dr on S Beach in Miami
> Bch. We planted it in front of the building in front of my second story
> apt. Withing a year it had grown even with the 2 story roof, plus nearly
> inside my windows and bore the most delicious smooth skinned sweet
> mini-cherries in total abundance. It was hard to eat enough it was so
> delicious. A combo flavor of cherries, strawberries and powdered sugar! It
> withstood the salt air and gale force winds off the ocean!
> Sheila Shea

Sounds like it might grow well in Santa Cruz. :)

This fruit sounds amazing.  I wonder:  Do we not hear about it much
because it isn't suited for commercial cropping?

Carol