Bunchosia armeniaca aka Peanut Butter Fruit

Bunchosia armeniaca is an evergreen shrub or small tree. It is part of the Malpighiaceae family. It comes from the tropics of South America. Records place it in Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador. They also list Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil. Common names include Ciruela Verde and Ameixa Do Peru. Kew places it in the wet tropical biome. It grows wild and in gardens within its native range.

The plant keeps its leaves through the year. The sources give different heights for this woody shrub or tree. One profile lists a height of 26 feet [8 metres]. That source gives 33 feet [10 metres] as its upper height. Habitat records place it at 4,921–7,874 feet [1,500–2,400 metres]. Growing notes also place this tropical plant at low to mid elevations.

The flowers have both male and female organs. Where the climate suits it, flowers and fruit appear much of the year. Plants can bear several fruit crops in one year. Plants grown from seed may bear fruit after just two years. The round fruits range from pale green to orange. Their flesh has a cream colour and a strong, sweet taste. Some sources call the pulp creamy. Another says the flesh is thin and rather dry. The fruit can taste too sweet. People eat it fresh or cook it.

Grow this species in sun with moist soil. PFAF says it can grow in light shade too. It accepts sand, loam, and clay soils. Its stated pH range goes from mildly acid to mildly alkaline. Useful Tropical Plants reports slight cold damage in Florida at 28°F [−2°C]. This one report does not show its full range of cold tolerance. Gardeners can grow new plants from seed. They can also use greenwood and semi-ripe cuttings.

People in Ecuador grew this fruit before Europeans arrived. Most growing has stayed on a garden scale. Sellers also offer the fruit in local markets. The sources describe its garden use for fruit and year-round leaves. They list no uses as medicine or for other purposes. They report no known hazards, but this does not prove safety. Views on its weed risk differ. Plants can escape gardens and take hold outdoors. The supplied sources name no pests or diseases.