This exotic fruit plant is becoming increasingly popular throughout the United States. It is a small, evergreen shrub that produces attractive thick, green foliage year-round. It is ideal for gardens but may also be grown in containers, and is a fantastic addition to patio and outdoor seating areas.
The Miracle Fruit grows in an oval or pyramidal shape and produces small, brown and white flowers, which are followed by vivid scarlet blooms. The plant will grow up to 1 foot each year, reaching a height of 3 feet at full maturity.
This plant thrives in warm climates with high levels of humidity and is most at home in zones 8 – 11 outdoors and 4 – 11 on patios. Miracle berry plants require only partial sunlight and occasional watering to yield fruit. The plant starts fruiting when only one foot tall. Its fruit is produced year-round adding a rich red color to your landscape.
The fruit of this shrub is edible but tasteless, and have an interesting effect on your taste buds. Once you chew a fleshy berry and its juice coats your tongue, everything you eat for the next few hours will taste sweet. You can put it to the test by sucking onto a lemon or lime, even these distinctive fruits will taste sweet to your palate.