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🍇 Novak Jaboticaba (Plinia phitrantha var. ‘Novak’) — 1-Gallon Tropical Fruit Tree 🌿
Striped fruit • extra-sweet flesh • salmon new growth • true collector selection
The Novak Jaboticaba is one of the most visually striking and sweet-fruited jaboticabas in cultivation. Credited to grower and collector Charles Novak, this selection is prized for its exceptionally sweet pulp, large leaves, and salmon-colored new growth that glows against a glossy evergreen canopy.
What truly sets Novak apart is the fruit itself: dark purple berries marked with vertical green striping that fades as sugars peak — a rare and unforgettable look. Compact, container-ready, and more precocious than many jaboticabas, Novak is a favorite for collectors who want beauty, flavor, and steady production in a manageable form.
Our 1-gallon Novak Jaboticaba is a well-established juvenile (approximately 2–3 years old), ideal for container culture and long-term success.
🌿 Quick Facts (At-a-Glance)
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Plinia phitrantha var. ‘Novak’ |
| Common Name | Novak Jaboticaba |
| Plant Type | Evergreen subtropical fruit tree |
| Sale Size | 1-gallon container |
| Estimated Age | ~2–3 years old |
| Mature Height (Unpruned) | ~12–20 ft in ground |
| Managed Height (Containers) | 6–10 ft with minimal pruning |
| USDA Zones | 9–11 outdoors • container culture elsewhere |
| Light Preference | Filtered or bright partial light preferred up to ~30-gallon size |
| Cold Tolerance | Brief dips to ~27–29°F once established |
| Soil / pH | Moist, well-drained, acidic (pH 5.5–6.5) |
| Wind / Salt | Fair wind tolerance • low salt tolerance |
| Growth Habit | Dense, upright; large leaves; cauliflorous |
| Foliage Type | Evergreen; salmon-colored new flush |
| Spacing (In-Ground) | 8–12 ft (closer if hedged or container-grown) |
🍇 Fruit, Flavor & Fruiting Habits
Fruit appearance
- Dark purple fruit with distinct vertical green striping
- Striping fades as sugars peak and fruit fully ripens
- Larger fruit than many jaboticabas (often ~1.5″ / ~4 cm in ideal conditions)
Pulp & flavor
- Extra-sweet, succulent flesh
- Low acidity with a tender, jelly-like mouthfeel
- Often described as one of the sweetest jaboticabas available
Skin & seed
- Thicker skin and larger seeds typical of phitrantha types
- Excellent for fresh eating, jams, and fermentation
Fruiting rhythm (Florida & similar climates)
- Multiple flushes per year in warmth and humidity
- Spring and summer peaks
- Occasional winter crops in mild years with steady moisture
Pollination
- Self-fertile; one plant will fruit reliably
⏳ Time to Fruit (Honest Expectations)
Novak is considered more precocious than many jaboticabas, but patience is still essential.
From this 1-gallon size, plan approximately:
- ~4–6 years to consistent fruiting under excellent care
Some growers may see flowers earlier, but we intentionally overestimate timelines so expectations remain realistic and success feels earned.
🌱 Why Grow Novak Jaboticaba?
- 🍇 Extra-sweet flesh with low acidity
- 🌸 Striped fruit — rare and highly ornamental
- 🌿 Salmon-colored new growth unlike most jaboticabas
- 🌳 Compact habit perfect for patios and courtyards
- 🪴 Outstanding container performer
- 🌿 True collector selection with known provenance
Origin Story — The Novak Selection 🌎
Novak Jaboticaba is a named selection credited to Charles Novak, recognized for its unique fruit striping, superior sweetness, and vigorous yet compact growth. Among collectors, Novak is valued not only for flavor but also for its ornamental character — a jaboticaba that looks as special as it tastes.
🪴 Why GreenDreams Recommends Container Culture
At GreenDreams, nearly all jaboticabas — including Novak — are grown in containers because container culture consistently outperforms in-ground planting, especially in Florida and alkaline soils.
Container culture allows
- Precise control of acidic pH (5.5–6.5)
- Excellent root oxygenation
- Support for heavy, frequent watering
- Easy management of filtered light and humidity
- Simple cold and wind protection
- Reduced micronutrient lockout over time
In our experience, container-grown jaboticabas are healthier, denser, and more reliable fruiters than many in-ground trees.
🌱 Our Proven 50/50 Growing Medium
Jaboticaba roots require moisture and oxygen.
Recommended mix
- 50% peat moss or coconut coir
- 50% perlite or fine pine bark
Optional (small amounts):
- Compost
- Worm castings
- Biochar
🚫 Avoid sand, clay, or dense garden soil in containers — compaction leads to root stress and decline.
💧 Watering Requirements (Non-Negotiable)
Novak Jaboticaba is a heavy water user.
- Containers: Daily watering during warm months is typical
- In-ground: Use drip irrigation only, never overhead sprays
- Soil must remain evenly moist at all times
- Never allow the root zone to dry completely
Consistent moisture = faster growth + more frequent fruiting.
☀️ Light & Placement (Standardized Across Jaboticabas)
🌤 Plants Up to ~30-Gallon Size
- Filtered or bright partial light strongly preferred
- Avoid direct afternoon sun
- Ideal locations:
- Shaded patios or lanais
- Screened enclosures
- Under high, open canopy trees
- Greenhouses or sunrooms
🌳 Very Large, Fully Established Trees (30G+)
- Can tolerate more sun only with constant moisture
- Even then, filtered light often produces better foliage and steadier fruiting
- Increase sun exposure gradually over months, not weeks
Pruning
Although many fruit trees tolerate heavy pruning, jaboticabas do not.
Novak Jaboticaba does not respond well to hard pruning.
Why
- Jaboticabas refill best on existing branches
- Hard pruning causes stress flushes of tender growth
- New growth is extremely sun-sensitive
- Leads to yellowing, leaf burn, and growth stalls
Recommended approach
- Remove only dead, damaged, or crossing branches
- Avoid cutting back healthy wood
- Allow time, moisture, and filtered light for natural canopy recovery
🪴 Transplanting & Container Step-Up (Critical Guidance)
🚫 Do NOT transplant immediately after arrival
For all jaboticabas from GreenDreams:
➡️ Wait at least 30 days OR until new growth appears (whichever comes later) before transplanting.
This ensures shipping stress has passed and roots are actively growing.
Step-Up Plan
1G → 3G → 7G → 15–30G (larger sizes typically for local pickup)
When to Transplant
- Roots circling the bottom
- Water running straight through
- Soil drying 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
🌾 Seasonal Habits (Florida & Similar Climates)
- Evergreen year-round
- Growth flushes during warm, humid periods
- Brief leaf drop may occur after cold or drought stress
- Once mature, fruiting may occur multiple times per year
Novak does not go dormant in mild winters — it simply slows, then resumes growth.
🔍 Troubleshooting Guide — Novak Jaboticaba
Yellowing leaves → pH too high / iron lockout → Acidic mix + chelated iron
Leaf curl / browning edges → Drought or sun shock → Increase moisture & filtered light
Slow growth → Normal jaboticaba habit → Warmth, moisture, patience
Root rot → Dense or waterlogged soil → Repot into airy 50/50 mix
Sparse fruit set → Low light or inconsistent watering → Boost filtered light & steady irrigation
Fruit splitting → Dry-down followed by heavy watering → Maintain consistent moisture
🌳 Is This Plant Right for You?
✅ Ideal for
- Container gardeners
- Rare-fruit collectors
- Patio or greenhouse growers
- Florida & subtropical climates (Zones 9–11)
❌ Not ideal for
- Coastal salt exposure
- Neglectful watering
- Expecting instant fruit in cool climates
🚚 Shipping & Care (Small Sizes)
- Best shipping: Florida, Southeast & Texas
- Nationwide shipping available with buyer discretion
- Ships UPS Ground every Monday from Florida
- Plants may need extra recovery after long transit routes
📍 Local Pickup
GreenDreams Nursery & Farm
18709 US Hwy. 41, Spring Hill, FL 34610
Tue–Fri 9 AM–5 PM • Sat 8 AM–3 PM
🌿 Beyond the Plant: GreenDreams Services
At GreenDreams, we don’t just grow plants — we design, build, and restore ecosystems across Florida.
- 🌳 Onsite consultations & edible landscape design
- 🌾 Installation & project management
- 🚚 Bulk delivery of compost, mulch, biochar & soil materials
- 🌱 Wholesale & large-scale regenerative solutions
Let our team help you create your thriving edible paradise — starting with Novak Jaboticaba 🌿
IMPORTANT INFORMATION BEFORE PURCHASING LIVE PLANTS:
*Please be advised that our online store selections are NOT available for pickup at our retail location in Spring Hill, Florida.
Inventory for our online store is located at a separate facility and are priced and handled exclusively for packaging & shipping.
Click here to learn more about our Spring Hill, FL retail nursery location, including countless more nursery selections ready for pickup - larger sizes and wider variety of plants not suitable for nationwide delivery.
1. Shipping Stress: Transportation can be stressful for plants, particularly when they spend several days in a confined, dark environment. It’s common for plants to experience leaf drop during this period. Rest assured, most plants typically recover quickly and thrive with minimal aftercare. However, some may need extra attention, love, and care, requiring appropriate watering and exposure to gentle light post-unboxing.
2. Potential Physical Damage: Despite our dedicated efforts to ensure that your plants are securely packaged, they may incur damage during shipping and handling by UPS. Rest assured, our shipping team is committed to packing your selections with utmost care and precision to minimize any potential harm.
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For significant box damage, please reach out to UPS within 30 days to initiate a claim.
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For minor damages, such as a broken branch or stem, we advise allowing the plant time to recover and regenerate with proper care and attention.
3. Long-Distance Shipping Considerations: Orders shipped over long distances, particularly to the western US, may take 3 - 5 business days to arrive due to various factors, including agricultural inspections in Arizona, California, and Texas. Such extended transit times can be particularly challenging for tender, young plants, affecting their quality due to prolonged confinement.
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We take additional measures during packaging to facilitate a swift recovery of the plants upon unboxing.
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Initial extra care and attention might be required over the first few weeks post-transport.
For further guidance, kindly review our detailed policies on returns and refunds, as well as our comprehensive plant care guide. We appreciate your understanding and patience in nurturing your new plants.
🌿 Important Shipping Information
Please take a moment to review our shipping protocols designed to ensure your plants arrive in optimal condition.
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Countdown Clock: At the top of our online store, you'll notice a countdown clock. This tool helps communicate our weekly shipping schedule, providing clarity on when you can expect your orders to be dispatched.
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Shipping Schedule: Our nursery, located in the heart of Central Florida, ships orders once weekly, every Monday. This is a strategic decision to prevent packages from being stationary over the weekends, ensuring that our plants travel as swiftly as possible across the country, even reaching as far as California.
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Shipping Method: At present, we offer ground shipping rates to meet various needs while maintaining the well-being of our plants during transit.
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Our Dedicated Team: We are a boutique nursery with a passionate team. Our members wear many hats, contributing to shipping, nursery operations, and engaging in valuable local projects. As we blossom and expand, rest assured that enhancing and streamlining our processes remains a priority to serve you better
Terms and Conditions for Purchasing Live Plants
1. Understanding of Shipping Stress
By purchasing live plants from our store, the customer acknowledges that transportation can be stressful for plants. It is common for plants to undergo leaf drop or experience other temporary issues during shipping. However, it is understood that most plants recover quickly with adequate care and attention post-shipping.
2. Awareness of Potential Physical Damage
Customers acknowledge that despite our best efforts in packaging, there may be occurrences of damage during shipping and handling. For substantial damages to the package, customers agree to contact UPS within 30 days to initiate a claim.
3. Acknowledgement of Long-Distance Shipping Considerations
Customers recognize that shipments, especially those directed to the western US, may be subjected to longer shipping durations of 3-5 business days. Customers agree to provide necessary care to the plants, recognizing that the quality of the plants may be affected due to prolonged shipping times.
4. Agreement with Shipping Information and Schedule
Customers, by making a purchase, have reviewed and agreed upon our shipping protocols and schedules. They acknowledge the presence of a countdown clock on the website and our once-weekly shipping policy every Monday, recognizing the rationale behind avoiding weekend layovers for the plants.
5.Extreme Weather Conditions
Customers acknowledge that our store is not responsible for damage or loss of live plants due to extreme weather conditions during transit and delivery. This includes exposure to cold or freezing temperatures during the winter months and extreme heat during the summer. We provide tracking information when orders are processed every Monday to ensure customers are aware of the delivery schedule. It is the customer's responsibility to prevent packages from being left outside in conditions that may cause damage. Our store does not accept responsibility for any adverse effects caused by weather conditions beyond our control.
6. No Refund Policy
Customers agree that refunds are only processed under exceptional circumstances. Our store will not be held responsible for poor plant choices relative to location suitability, extreme conditions during and/or post-shipment, and improper post-purchase plant care.
7. Responsibility of Care
Upon purchase, customers agree to assume full responsibility for the ongoing care of the plants. This includes, but is not limited to, appropriate watering, exposure to suitable light, and adherence to specific care instructions pertinent to each plant type.
8. Consent
By proceeding with this purchase, customers consent to all the terms and conditions stated above, confirming understanding and agreement to all stipulations mentioned.
These terms and conditions aim to ensure clarity, mutual understanding, and agreement between the seller and the customer to facilitate a smooth transaction and foster a positive customer experience.
