🍇 Dwarf Jaboticaba ‘Costada’ (Plinia phitrantha) — 1-Gallon Tropical Fruit Tree 🌿

Compact, red-fruited, velvet-pulp favorite for containers, patios & steady harvests

The Dwarf Jaboticaba ‘Costada’ is one of the most ornamental, compact, and productive jaboticabas we grow at GreenDreams. With glossy evergreen foliage, smooth sculptural bark, and clouds of white flowers that emerge directly from the trunk, this cultivar delivers beauty first — then follows with deep red fruit filled with velvety, candy-sweet pulp.

Unlike many jaboticabas that fruit only once or twice per year, ‘Costada’ is semi-everbearing in Florida’s climate, often flowering and fruiting multiple times per year — sometimes even producing light winter crops when conditions are mild and moisture is consistent.

Our 1-gallon plants are approximately 4–5 years old, making this one of the most mature jaboticabas available at this size — ideal for growers who want a compact tree with a shorter path to regular harvests.

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🌿 Quick Facts (At-a-Glance)

Category	Details
Botanical Name	Plinia phitrantha (syn. Myrciaria phitrantha)
Common Name	Dwarf Jaboticaba ‘Costada’
Plant Type	Subtropical evergreen fruit tree
Sale Size	1-gallon container
Approximate Age	~4–5 years old
Mature Size (Unpruned)	6–15 ft tall × 6–12 ft wide
Managed Size (Containers)	6–10 ft with minimal pruning
USDA Zones	9B–11 (container culture recommended north of 10A)
Light Preference	Filtered or dappled light preferred up to 30-gallon size
Cold Hardiness	Light frost tolerant; protect below ~27–29°F
Soil / pH	Moist, rich, slightly acidic (pH 5.5–6.5)
Wind / Salt	Moderate wind tolerance • not salt tolerant
Growth Habit	Compact, multi-trunked, cauliflorous
Foliage Type	Evergreen; brief stress-related leaf drop possible
Spacing (In-Ground)	8–12 ft (closer when container-grown)
Fruiting Habit	Multiple crops per year, often nearly year-round in FL

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🍇 Fruit & Flower Details

• Fruit color: Deep red to maroon clusters borne directly on trunk and older wood
• Flavor: Exceptionally sweet and aromatic — often described as “grape meets tropical candy”
• Texture: Velvety-smooth, low-acid pulp with excellent mouthfeel
• Fruit size: ~½–1″ diameter depending on culture and moisture
• Bloom-to-harvest: ~30–40 days under warm, humid conditions
• Pollination: Self-fertile (single plant fruits reliably)

Fruiting Expectations

From this 1-gallon, 4–5-year-old plant, expect:

• ~2+ years to consistent fruiting under excellent care

In Florida and similar climates, Costada commonly produces 3–5 fruiting cycles per year, including occasional winter crops when protected and well-watered.

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🌱 Why Grow Dwarf Jaboticaba ‘Costada’?

• 🍇 One of the sweetest jaboticabas available
• 🌸 Frequent flowering and fruiting compared to many cultivars
• 🌳 Compact, manageable size ideal for patios and small gardens
• 🪴 Outstanding container performance
• 🌿 High ornamental value even when not in fruit

This is one of the best jaboticabas for growers who want steady harvests without a massive tree.

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🪴 Why GreenDreams Recommends Container Culture

At our Spring Hill nursery, nearly all of our jaboticabas — including Costada — are grown in containers, and they consistently outperform in-ground plantings.

Container culture allows:

• Precise control of acidic pH (5.5–6.5)
• Excellent root aeration
• Heavy, frequent watering without waterlogging
• Easy protection from cold, wind, and weather extremes
• Faster maturity and more frequent fruiting in alkaline regions

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🌱 Our Proven 50/50 Growing Medium

Jaboticabas require soil that stays moist and oxygenated.

Recommended mix:

• 50% peat moss or coco coir (acidity + moisture retention)
• 50% perlite, vermiculite, or fine pine bark (drainage + airflow)

Optional additions (small amounts):

• Compost
• Worm castings
• Biochar

🚫 Avoid sand or dense garden soils — compaction leads to root stress and decline.

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💧 Watering Requirements (Critical)

Dwarf Jaboticaba ‘Costada’ is a heavy water user.

• Containers: Daily watering is ideal during warm months
• In-ground: Use drip irrigation only (never overhead sprinklers)
• Soil must remain evenly moist at all times
• Never allow the root zone to dry completely

With consistent moisture, Costada often flowers again within weeks of a harvest, sometimes even through winter.

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☀️ Light & Placement (Standardized)

🌤 Plants Up to 30-Gallon Size

• Filtered or dappled light is strongly preferred
• Avoid direct afternoon sun
• Ideal locations:
  • Shaded patios or lanais
  • Screened enclosures
  • Under high, open canopy trees
  • Greenhouses

🌳 Very Large, Fully Established Trees (30G+)

• Can tolerate more sun with constant moisture
• Even then, filtered light often produces healthier foliage and steadier fruiting
• Any increase in sun exposure should be gradual over months

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Pruning

Although we heavily prune many fruit trees, jaboticabas are an exception.

Dwarf Jaboticaba ‘Costada’ does not respond well to hard pruning.

Why:

• Jaboticabas prefer to refill on existing branches
• Hard pruning triggers stress flushes of tender new growth
• New growth is extremely sun-sensitive
• Leads to leaf burn, yellowing, and growth stalls

Recommended approach:

• Remove only dead, damaged, or crossing branches
• Avoid cutting back healthy wood
• Allow time, moisture, and filtered light to naturally densify the canopy

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🪴 Transplanting & Container Step-Up

Step-Up Plan

1G → 3G → 7G → 15–30G (larger sizes available for local pickup)

When to Transplant

Most 1-gallon Costada plants:

• Can remain 6–12 months in their pot
• Prefer staying slightly snug

Transplant only when:

• Roots circle the bottom
• Water runs straight through
• Soil dries unusually fast

How to Transplant

• Do not disturb the root ball
• Plant at the same depth (root flare just above soil line)
• Pack soil firmly
• Return to filtered light during recovery

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🌾 Seasonal Care (Florida & Similar Climates)

Season	What to Expect	Recommended Care
Spring	Heavy bloom & fruit flush	Feed organically; maintain humidity
Summer	Rapid growth, repeat fruiting	Daily watering; partial shade in heat
Fall	Continued fruiting in warm regions	Light shaping; refresh mulch
Winter	Slower growth, often light crops	Protect from frost; maintain moisture

Costada never enters full dormancy in mild winters — it simply slows, then flushes again with warmth.

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Troubleshooting Guide — Dwarf Jaboticaba ‘Costada’

Yellowing leaves → Alkaline soil or nutrient lockout → Acidic mix + chelated iron

Leaf burn / curl → Excess sun or drought → Increase shade + moisture

Slow growth → Normal jaboticaba behavior → Patience + consistency

Root rot → Poor drainage → Repot into airy 50/50 mix

Sparse flowering → Low light or cold stress → Increase filtered light + nutrition

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Culinary Uses

• Eat fresh off the tree
• Blend into smoothies or juices
• Make jams, jellies, syrups, or desserts
• Ferment into jaboticaba wine or fruit vinegar
• Use skins (high in anthocyanins) for color and antioxidants

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🌳 Is This Plant Right for You?

✅ Ideal for:

• Container gardeners & patio growers
• Florida & Gulf Coast climates
• Collectors seeking frequent fruiting
• Growers wanting compact, ornamental trees

❌ Not ideal for:

• Coastal or salt-exposed locations
• Arid climates without irrigation
• Growers expecting instant yields

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🚚 Shipping & Handling

• Ships Mondays via UPS Ground from Florida
• Best regions: Florida, Southeast & Texas
• Nationwide shipping with buyer discretion during heat/cold extremes
• Allow 1–2 weeks for acclimation before transplanting

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📍 Local Pickup

🚜 GreenDreams Nursery & Farm

🌾 18709 US Hwy. 41, Spring Hill, FL 34610

🕘 Tue–Fri 9AM–5PM | 🌞 Sat 8AM–3PM

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🌿 Beyond the Plant: GreenDreams Services

At GreenDreams, we don’t just grow plants — we design, build, and restore ecosystems across Florida.

• 🌳 Edible landscape design & onsite consultations
• 🌾 Installation & project management
• 🚚 Bulk delivery of compost, mulch, biochar & soil
• 🌱 Wholesale & regenerative growing solutions

Let our team help you build your thriving edible paradise — starting with Dwarf Jaboticaba ‘Costada’ 🌿