FNPS Plant Database

Casasia clusiifolia

seven-year-apple

PHOTOS COMING SOON!

Nomenclature

Common Name:

seven-year-apple

Synonym(s):

Genipa clusiifolia, Genipa aculeata

Genus species:

Casasia clusiifolia

Family:

Rubiaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

10-12 (25) ft tall by 15 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

yellow,green,black

Phenology:

Evergreen. Blooms year round.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Hurricane Wind Resistance, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Specimen plant, hedge plant. Large shrub to small tree. Large, showy, shiny leaves.

Considerations:

Dioecious (separate male and female plants), so both male and female are required to get fruits.



Mature fruits are not attractive (young fruits are nice looking)

Availability:

Native Nurseries

Propagation:

Male and female flowers on different plants, so need to plant both to get fruits.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Somewhat moist, no flooding ---to--- Short very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam

Soil pH:

Calcareous (high pH)

Suitable to Grow In:

10A,10B,11

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.



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Ecology

Wildlife:

Butterflies, Caterpillars, Birds, Mammals

Larval host plant for tantalus sphinx ( Aellopus tantalus ) moths.





Nectar plant for mangrove skipper ( Phocides pigmalion ) and other butterflies.

Fruit is eaten by birds and mammals.  Mockingbirds specifically are reported to enjoy the fruits.

Native Habitats:

Coastal hammocks.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Wood has been used for tools such as rifle handles.



Fruit is edible when fully ripe (black), but not tasty to many people.

General Comments:

Citations:

http://www.eattheweeds.com/genipa-clusiifolia-an-acquired-taste-2/   (ethnobotany)



EIS.  https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fp110   ( mockingbirds)



Flora Finds.   http://www.floralfinds.com/2017/03/29/sevenyear-apple/   (blog article)



Haehle, Robert G. and Joan Brookwell.  1999.  Native Florida Plants.  Gulf Publishing Company.  Houston, TX.



Institute for Regional Conseervation (IRC).  https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Casaclus   (salt tolerance)



Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ).  Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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