Family: Malpighiaceae

Bunchosia argentea (peanut butter fruit) is a small tropical tree native to Central and South America. It is best known for its bright red to orange drupes that have a soft, creamy texture and a flavor often compared to peanut butter. The tree has glossy green leaves and produces small yellowish flowers that attract pollinators. Peanut butter fruit is grown mainly as an ornamental and novelty edible plant, valued for its unusual taste, attractive fruit, and compact size, making it well-suited for home gardens in warm climates.

At this time, peanut butter fruit is not considered a major invasive risk in Hawaiʻi or other tropical regions. It is generally slow-growing and not known to aggressively spread into natural areas. However, like many introduced fruit trees, it could potentially spread through bird-dispersed seeds under favorable conditions. Ongoing monitoring is recommended, but it is currently considered a low-risk species when responsibly planted and managed.

High Risk Traits:

• Highly suited to tropical/subtropical climates
  
• History of repeated introductions outside native range
  
• Tolerates a wide soil pH range (6.1–7.8)
  
• Fleshy fruit likely bird-dispersed
  
• Seeds likely survive gut passage
  
• Can resprout after damage

Low Risk Traits:

• Not naturalized beyond native range
  
• No record as a weed in any setting
  
• Non-toxic to humans and animals
  
• No spines, allelopathy, or parasitic traits
  
• Congeners not notably invasive
  
• Large seeds limit unintentional dispersal
  
• Not prolific seed producer
  
• Requires pollinators (not self-compatible)