The Tree Tomato or tamarillo is an egg-shaped, edible frit that grows on a small, fast-growing subtropical shrub.
It reaches upto 10 to 18ft. and shortlived, typically productive for 4 to 6 years.
Native
Solanaceae
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Tree Tomato
Solanum betaceum
Local / Vernacular name: Seibengeno
Key Facts
Family
Solanaceae
Genus
Solanum
Species
betaceum
Origin
Native
Est. Age
~5 years
Height
~2.00 m
Girth
~16.00 cm
Flowering Season
Early spring
Fruiting Season
Late Autumn to early spring
Canopy Spread
~1.30 m
Campus Zone
Near Auditorium
About this Tree
- Small evergreen medium-sized tree usually 2-5 m.
- Stem is soft, woody with many branches.
- Leaves are simple, alternate, large, heart-shaped, soft, aromatic when crushed.
- Flowers are small, star-shaped, pinkish-white to pale purple, borne in clusters, bisexual.
- Fruits are egg-shaped, berry, 4-10cm long, smooth, shiny, skin, red-orange or yellow when ripe.
- Seeds are numerous, small, flat and black.
- It support pollination, abundant flowers attract local bees, bumblebees, and other beneficial insects.
- Ripe fruits on branches provide a steady food source for native birds and small mammals.
- Evergreen foliage and woody root systems protect fragile mountain and hill slopes from rain runoff and topsoil loss.
- Fits well into multi-layered traditional gardens, increasing plant diversity without requiring clear-cutting.
- Local communities historically viewed the plant as a symbol of vitality and dietary resilience during seasonal changes.
- People warm the large tree tomato leaves and wrap them around the neck to soothe severe sore throats.
- Traditional healers cook the fruit pulp in embers and apply it as a warm poultice to reduce inflamed tonsils.
- It has been used as a tonic or cleanser to support liver wellness.
- It is prized for a sharp, tangy, and tart flavor that cuts through rich or smoky dishes.
- Made into fresh chili-infused dips, pickles, and hot sauces in South America, Nepal, and Northeast India.
- Frequently grown directly in family kitchen gardens rather than large commercial monocultures.
Image Gallery
Fruit
Related Trees
Other trees in the Solanaceae on campus
