Peanut butter fruit Plant Care

Bunchosia armeniaca DC.

Updated · Sources · How we source care data

Bunchosia armeniaca is a species in the family Malpighiaceae native to northwestern South America. Common names include cansaboca, cirhuela de frayle, ciruela de fraile, guáimaro, indano, and mamey de tierra fría.

Water

Every 7–14 days

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Temp

50–85°F

Humidity

40–70%

At a glance

How do you care for Peanut butter fruit?

Plant Peanut butter fruit in full sun to partial shade (USDA zones 12a) and water a young tree every 7–14 days until it is established. It tolerates temperatures of 50–85°F (10–29°C). Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.

Where Is the Peanut butter fruit Native To?

Native range13 countries

What Is the Peanut butter fruit?

Peanut butter fruit (Bunchosia armeniaca) belongs to the Malpighiaceae family within the Bunchosia genus. Peanut butter fruit is native to northwestern South America. Peanut butter fruit is also known as Armenian bunchosia, Plum bunchosia.

Peanut butter fruit displays a small tree or shrub growth habit, reaching up to 10 ft tall with a spread of approximately 8 ft. Peanut butter fruit produces small yellow flowers in clusters.

Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.

How Often Should You Water a Peanut butter fruit?

Water a young or newly planted Peanut butter fruit every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Watering Frequency

Every 7–14 days

Until established; then in dry spells

What Light Does the Peanut butter fruit Need?

Peanut butter fruit thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Light Requirement

Full sun to partial shade

What Temperature and Humidity Does the Peanut butter fruit Prefer?

Bunchosia armeniaca tolerates temperatures of 50–85°F. Peanut butter fruit prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Temperature

50–85°F

Humidity

40–70%

What Soil Mix Works Best for a Peanut butter fruit?

Well-draining loamy soil with added organic matter for moisture retention. Good drainage is essential for Peanut butter fruit to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

How Often Should You Fertilize a Peanut butter fruit?

Feed Peanut butter fruit every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

Fertilizing

Every 6 months

During the growing season

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Where Should You Plant a Peanut butter fruit?

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining loamy soil with added organic matter for moisture retention. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Peanut butter fruit is suited to USDA Zone 12a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

How Far Apart Should You Plant a Peanut butter fruit?

Peanut butter fruit can spread to about 8 ft (2.4 m) and reach about 10 ft (3 m) tall. Space plants about 8 ft (2.4 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

How Do You Prune a Peanut butter fruit?

Prune Peanut butter fruit while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

How Do You Care for a Peanut butter fruit in Winter?

Peanut butter fruit is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 12). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

How Do You Propagate a Peanut butter fruit?

Peanut butter fruit can be propagated through seeds, stem cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to peanut butter tree plant care, which shares the same genus.

Is the Peanut butter fruit Toxic to Pets and Children?

Pet safety not verified

The ASPCA does not list Peanut butter fruit, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.

This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

What Pests and Diseases Affect the Peanut butter fruit?

Peanut butter fruit is susceptible to aphids, scale insects. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Peanut butter fruit Need?

Peanut butter fruit grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Peanut butter fruit is native to northwestern South America. In cooler regions, grow Peanut butter fruit as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.

Hardiness Zone

Zone 12a

Keep exploring plants

Peanut butter fruit is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.

It belongs to the Bunchosia genus — compare its care with other Bunchosia species on PlantoScan.

Bunchosia is part of the Malpighiaceae plant family — browse all Malpighiaceae genera and species.

Peanut butter fruit thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.

Related Plant Care Guides

Closely related plants with similar care requirements:

Sources

  • Scientific name & taxonomy: Bunchosia armeniaca DC., family Malpighiaceae (first published in Prodr. 1: 582 (1824)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
  • Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Peanut butter fruit, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
  • Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
  • Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.

Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.

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