Zombiefruit

Zombie Fruit (a.k.a. cudrang, Chinese mulberry, che, and Maclura tricuspidata)—Zombie fruit is our name for this delicious, easy-to-grow member of the mulberry/fig family.  Why zombie fruit?  ‘Cuz the berry-like fruits look like little brains!  But they don’t taste like brains (not that I’d know since I’m not a zombie), but rather like watermelon X fig.  Very sweet, with little to no tartness.  They ripen in late September through October and will keep in the fridge for weeks—at least past Halloween when they might be a fun addition to your zombie feast!

Grafted onto our native Osage orange (a.k.a. bois d’arc or Maclura pomifera), the zombie fruit plant assumes a spreading small-tree/big bush shape, about 15-20’ tall.  Deer seems to be the only pest—no diseases or insects pests yet in our climate.  They are also heat and drought tolerant.  AND they begin bearing, usually, the year after planting!!

Zombie fruit trees are either male or female.  If you buy and plant a female without a male, you will have smaller, seedless fruit.  If you plant a male nearby, you will get larger fruit but with seeds.