Loganiaceae - Botanical Family

The Monkey Orange is a captivating fruit tree from tropical Africa and Madagascar, known for its vibrant yellow fruits and wide range of uses.

This small to medium-sized tree, has glossy leaves and thorny branches that make it visually striking.

What does the Monkey Orange taste like? The fruits, size of an orange, have a hard shell that protects their sweet-tart pulp with interesting pleasant taste somewhat similar to mangosteen. Some people say it tastes like a mix of citrus and pineapple with a hint of fermentation.

Rich in vitamin C and B vitamins, the fruit can be enjoyed fresh or transformed into jams, juices, and even wine.

Its durable wood is prized for carvings, and its leaves and roots are used in traditional medicine and as natural insecticides.

Slow-growing yet resilient, this hardy tree thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, offering beauty, nourishment, and practicality - an excellent choice for tropical or subtropical landscapes.

Why is it called Monkey Orange?

The "monkey orange" likely gets its name from its appeal to monkeys that eat the fruit and distribute the seeds in their habitat in Africa.

The seeds and unripe fruits are toxic. The seeds must be avoided though as they are poisonous or could have purgative effects.

A slow-growing shrub, it can grow into a medium-sized tree about 6Ft tall. White fragrant flowers 1" wide that hang in drooping bunches under the large, leathery leaves and attract lots of ants. They turn into bunches of green fruits. Grows along the paths of the coastal road to Chek Jawa under the shelter of the taller trees. It has large, leathery leaves. The plant has many medicinal uses among natives in Southeast Asia. Another Malay name for it is 'Sepuleh' or 'The Healer'. In the Philippines, a traditional snake bite antidote is made from its flowers, leaves, bark and roots. Plant has pharmacologically active components. This plant is bat pollinated. Bats eat the fruits and disperse the seeds. Fragrant flowers fill the space around with delicate sweet scent. Like other fagraea species, it can be grown as a small tree or compact bush in container. When planted in ground, will form a dense large shrub. Leaves are leathery and glossy, very pleasant to touch. Perfect exotic accent to a small yard or patio. The plant will tolerate some shade and can be successfully grown indoors. Blooms onn and off year round. This plant is very rare and hard to find, propagation is not easy. Cuttings root very slowly, within 6-7 months. Toxic to animals.