Family: Rubiaceae

Monkey apple is a densely branched, single-trunked tree with a rounded crown. Flowers at various times throughout the year in Hawaii. In its native land of Central America, flowering occurs mainly in the rainy season. Evening and nighttime are when the sweet fragrance is the most powerful. While edible, monkey apple fruit is not commonly eaten. A fast-growing, low-maintenance tree.

Plant Uses:

• Bonsai
• Container plant
• Cut flower
• Edible
• Fragrant
• Hedge
• Lei flower
• Medicinal
• Ornamental
• Shade
• Bonzai

Plant Dangers:

• No dangers

High Risk Traits:

• Grown in tropical gardens outside its native range
  
• Intentionally dispersed by people as an ornamental
  
• Propagules adapted for water dispersal (found along streams/rivers)
  
• Propagules dispersed by birds and other animals (parrots, monkeys)

Low Risk Traits:

• No naturalization
  
• No spines, thorns, or burrs
  
• No evidence of allelopathic, parasitic, or toxic properties
  
• Requires specialist pollinators (hawkmoths) for effective pollination
  
• Self-incompatible (low fruit/flower ratio)
  
• Large fruit not likely to be dispersed unintentionally or as a contaminant