This exotic vine has heart-shaped leaves and produces small yellow flowers followed by unusual looking spiky fruits which change colour from green to yellowy-orange when ripe. The seeded, lime-green jelly like interior of the fruit is rich in nutrients and has a mild flavour which is sometimes described as a cross between cucumber, courgette and kiwifruit (although as it ripens, it tastes more like a banana). It is thought to be the ancestor of all other cultivated melons, and should be grown like an ordinary cucumber but with less water and in a dryer atmosphere. ... Learn More

This superb fruit is relatively new on the scene, the golden variety being much sweeter, and the pulp softer, rather like a mushy fruit salad. The fruit has a smoother skin and a small nub or point on one end, whereas the green kiwi is slightly fuzzier, and symmetrically oval, and most people find the smooth skin more palatable. The plants do well to be pruned hard back at the end of each growing season. ... Learn More

Sometimes called Chinese oranges, these are the smallest, weirdest, and certainly the rarest of the common citrus fruits. In a contrary turnaround from others in this group, the tasty skin and zest are extraordinarily sweet and tasty, whilst the juicy insides are just the same as many oranges. The size of very small plums, they are often used as an expensive winter treat and can be eaten whole, just as they are, (yes really, I have tried them), or cooked with sugar, spices or spirits to make sweet compôtes and aromatic chutneys, and are often sliced whole and used in curries. The small fruitin ... Learn More

This famous, long-lived tree opens its clusters of extremely fragrant white flowers, followed by big ovoid fruits which are green when young and later ripen to bright yellow. As well as producing a large crop of fruit, it also makes the ultimate architectural courtyard plant in warmer countries, or is perfect in a container on a patio conservatory or cold greenhouse specimen as it can tolerate temperatures down to -5C. Modern forms of this fruit are selectively bred to produce few or no seeds, hence the difficulty in obtaining viable seeds. ... Learn More

The Wood Apple is a slow growing tree related to the citrus family, with leaves bearing oil glands, which give a slight lemon scent when crushed. Flowers are very fragrant and cream in colour so therefore attract many pollinators. Native to India and Sri Lanka, the woody berries are ceremonially eaten during the Ganesha Festival ... Learn More

These attractive orange fruits have a refreshing citrus flavour, sometimes described as a combination of rhubarb and lime, and the bright green juice is often used as a drink. Naranjilla are quite delicate plants and need protection from strong winds and direct sunlight, in hot countries growing best in partial shade. The attractive, felted, large green leaves have a warm purply hue, but are covered in sharp prickles, the biggest ones hidden beneath the leaves. Solanum quitoense is native to South America where it is often found at quite high altitudes, but in cultivation, in cooler climes, it ... Learn More

These excellent fertile seeds were harvested from locally grown Conference Pear fruit trees, which produce one of the very best eating and storing pears. Important, you may not grow absolutely identical pears from these seeds, as fruits produced may vary in size, sweetness and taste greatly, but you should certainly get a lovely new cultivar, as new varieties are produced by growing large numbers of seedlings and choosing the best. Most seeds in the original fruits are hollow, and thus infertile, with very few fat fertile seeds being produced, and these have been selected individually. ... Learn More

These lovely fruits need no description, being one of the healthiest foods you can eat, providing roughage as well as being sweet and juicy, so people in warmer countries can soon have a long-lived fruit tree in their garden! These plants also make attractive indoor container plants for growers in colder climates. ... Learn More

Usually a pale green to yellow when ripe, this amazing fruit is much larger than a grapefruit, with sweet flesh and thick spongy rind. By far the largest citrus in the world, the pummelo can reach 12" in diameter. Similar in appearance to a large grapefruit, it is native to South and Southeast Asia and is a natural citrus fruit, not a hybrid, and is indeed one of the original citrus species from which the rest of cultivated citrus were produced by hybridisation. The pummelo tree itself bears most attractive white flowers and generally has a somewhat crooked trunk and low, irregular branches. ... Learn More

Sweet, spiky-shelled, lychee-like fruits are produced twice a year, yielding crops in August and January. Growing seasons vary, however, in all of the tropical countries where it flourishes. Truly tropical, Rambutan trees love warm, humid climates, but also make perfect potted plants for indoors, although for non-tropical areas they can cope with temperatures down to 10 °C in the open. They are grown commercially within 12–15° of the equator where they do best in deep soil, clay loam or sandy loam rich in organic matter, and thrive on hilly terrain as they require good drainage. Fresh seeds an ... Learn More

A slow-growing, ornamental, spiny evergreen shrub or tree bearing small deep red to purple, plum shaped fruit. It tolerates frequent trimming and can be closely planted to form a tall hedge, windbreak or boundary screen. The soft, juicy pulp of the fruit can be acidic in flavour and is often used to make jams, preserve and jellies. The bark, leaves and root are used medicinally in parts of Asia and Africa. ... Learn More

This unusual cucumber has long, white speckled fruits that turns orange when ripe and that actually resemble snakes. Widely grown as a vegetable in India and the Orient, mature fruits can actually grow up to 2 metres long and 10cm thick. The bright red pulp around the mature seeds is extracted and used in cooking in much the same way that tomatoes are used. During the course of the night, the flower bud of a snake gourd slowly unfurls into a beautiful white and strongly-scented flower, fringed with long, lace-like tendrils. Their shape, colour, scent and nocturnal opening tell you that the sna ... Learn More

The Tamarillo (Cyphomandra betacea) is the "Tree Tomato". Like its cousins of the closely-related Lycopersicon genus (the ordinary common tomato), the egg-size fruit makes good eating, and is typically made into jams or conserve, although it is recommended that the skin and seeds are removed before cooking. It therefore makes either a fruiting shrub or a superb foliage plant! It is easily grown from seed and makes a pleasing contrast to the more typical foliage of cannas, gingers and bananas. Easily grown from seed, the roots of this plant are quite tough surviving moderate frosts, and in ... Learn More

Cyphomandra betacea, commonly known as Tamarillo or Tamarillo White Egg, belongs to the Solanaceae family. This compact fruiting plant is recognized for its manageable size, typically reaching heights of 3 to 4 feet (90 to 120 cm), making it suitable for both garden and container cultivation. The Solanaceae family affiliation indicates its botanical features. The White Egg's fruit is distinctive, resembling a white egg in both shape and size. This cultivar is a practical choice for those seeking a compact and visually appealing addition to their garden or container planting. ... Learn More