Jaltomata Species, Creeping False Holly

This is a fairly easy to grow plant from Mexico and Central America, and is also found in Arizona. The flowers are small and inconspicuou...Read Mores. My children love the ripe berries, which are also small (0.5 ~ 1cm diameter). My plants produce maybe 30 berries each in a season; not much food compared to many domesticated vegetables, however they are an intereting addition to the garden. They have a spicy tomatillo-like flavor, trading the tomatillo's sourness for a slight sweetness instead. Seeds may be stored for years in the refridgerator and typically have high germination rates. The plant attracts leaf hoppers in my yard. The seeds may be collected by chopping the berries up with water in a blender. The seeds will settle to the bottom, and the remaining pulp can be used to make jelly or jam. The jam is very tasty and has a slightly pungent, tangy flavor that reminds me of pineapple.

Very little is found on the internet about this plant. It is a fruiting bush. The fruits are good for jams. They are black and sweet. A r...Read Moreare plant in most gardens.