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Borojoa patinoi - Cuatrec.

Common Name Borojo
Family Rubiaceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Lowland rainforests, usually at elevations up to 700 metres but occasionally to 1,200 metres[ 418 ]..
Range Northwestern S. America - Colombia and Brazil, north through Central America to Nicaragua.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Moist Soil Full shade Semi-shade
Borojoa patinoi Borojo


Jean-Luc Crucifix wikimedia.org
Borojoa patinoi Borojo
Giovanny Garzon Pardo wikimedia.org

 

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Summary

Borojo or Borojo patinoi is a small, tropical, evergreen shrub that grows up to 5 m high and is found in Northwestern South America. It is a dioecious species cultivated for its edible fruit that can be eaten raw or made into juice, jellies, preserves, etc. The fruit is also tonic and has many other medicinal uses. Found In: Amazon, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nauru, Panama, South America.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of cone
Borojoa patinoi is an evergreen Tree growing to 8 m (26ft) by 6 m (19ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) or semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Alibertia patinoi (Cuatrec.) Delprete & C.H.Perss.

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses: Drink

Fruit - eaten raw or made into jellies, preserves, sauces, ice cream etc[ 301 ]. A sweet, aromatic flavour with some bitterness[ 335 ]. The green to brown fruit is 7 - 12 cm in diameter with a brown pulp that is very acid and dense[ 418 ]. The fruit pulp is used to prepare juice (jugo del amor), compotes, marmalades, candies and wine[ 418 ].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Aphrodisiac

The fruit is prized for its tonic and cure-all qualities[ 418 ]. It is famous in western Colombia for its supposed aphrodisiac properties[ 418 ].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

A plant of warm tropical lowlands usually at elevations up to 700 metres, but sometimes to 1,200 metres[ 418 ]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures fall within the range 20 - 28°c, though it can tolerate 15 - 32°c[ 418 ]. Temperatures in its native region may reach up to an absolute maximum of 41°c[ 418 ]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 3,000 - 6,000mm, tolerating 2,500 - 9,000mm[ 418 ]. It thrives with high air humidity average up to almost 90%[ 418 ]. Succeeds in heavy soils[ 335 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 4.5 - 6.5, tolerating 4 - 7[ 418 ]. The fruit takes more than one year to ripen after flowering. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[ 418 ].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Borojo or Borojo patinoi.

Native Range

SOUTHERN AMERICA: Costa Rica, Puntarenas, Panama, Darién, Panamá, Colombia, Cauca, Chocó, Ecuador, Esmeraldas, Pastaza,

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Cuatrec.

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

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