Family: Anacardiaceae
Origin, Description & Uses
Spondias purpurea, commonly known as red mombin, Spanish plum, or jocote, is a small to medium-sized deciduous fruit tree native to Mexico, Central America, and northern Colombia. It is widely cultivated throughout the tropics for its colorful, plum-like fruits, which range from yellow and orange to deep red or purple when ripe. The tree typically grows 10–40 feet (3–12 m) tall and has a broad, spreading canopy with compound leaves and small reddish flowers. Its fruits are eaten fresh, made into juices, preserves, and desserts, and are an important traditional food crop in many parts of Latin America. The species is also planted as a shade tree, living fence, and ornamental due to its attractive form and edible fruit.
Risks & Threats
Although Spondias purpurea is not currently known to be naturalized in Hawaiʻi, it possesses traits that are cause for concern. The tree produces abundant fruit that can be dispersed by birds, mammals, and human activity, increasing its potential to spread beyond cultivation. It is adaptable to a range of tropical and subtropical environments, tolerates seasonal drought, and can readily regenerate from cuttings and vegetative fragments. While significant invasive impacts have not been documented in Hawaiʻi, these characteristics suggest a capacity for persistence and spread under favorable conditions. Ongoing evaluation is needed to determine whether this species could impact Hawaiʻi’s ecosystems, and caution is recommended when planting it near natural areas.
High Risk Traits:
- Naturalized in multiple countries (Galapagos, Florida, Puerto Rico, Philippines, Nigeria, West Indies)
- Reproduces via cuttings and root fragments; used in living fences
- Seeds survive gut passage; dispersed by birds, mammals, and lizards
- Tolerates wide range of soils and climates (dry/wet; 0–2000 m)
- Hybridizes naturally with Spondias mombin
- Resprouts after cutting
- Widely introduced outside native range for fruit
Low Risk Traits:
- No spines, thorns, or burrs
- Palatable to livestock (leaves grazed by cattle)
- Non-toxic to animals and humans (fruit is edible)
- Not shade-tolerant (light-demanding)
- Dioecious (requires male and female trees for seed set)
