Help me identify this fruit tree

Steve Magruder · June 12, 2012

Well, I think it's a fruit tree. It's a tree that was already there when we moved into this house two years ago. I've taken pics of the full tree, of a single leaf and of the 'fruit' that's currently growing.

The tree started growing fruit late last summer and none of them apparently developed into anything, although they went from a greenish to a purplish tone.

So, now it's growing fruit much earlier, and I'd like to figure out what fruit I'm going to end up with once they mature.

Thanks for any ideas!

Wi-sunflower · June 12, 2012

I can't tell for sure.It looks like it could be either a plum or an olive. Because of the shininess of the leaf, I would lean to olive.

Check out this search http://www.google.com/search?q=olive...w=1024&bih=653

Carol

Steve Magruder · June 12, 2012

Well, olives are evergreens, I thought, and this tree loses its leaves during the winter. I agree though that the pictures of the fruits look similar.

When I tried to figure this out last year, I was leaning toward plum, but I just couldn't be conclusive. I was hoping this year, the fruits go to maturity and inform me.

(edited to correct myself)

Mudman · June 12, 2012

There may be different types of plums that grow down your way, but I have had a few and never have they had such thick shiny leaves as the ones you show. Also the plums don't cluster the way your fruit are clustering.

CinnamintStick · June 12, 2012

Could it be a jujube?

BarbJ · June 12, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by CinnamintStick

Could it be a jujube?

Could be I think. Pics.

http://www.willisorchards.com/produc...e?category=249

Sun City Linda · June 13, 2012

Leaves on olives are narrow and gray / green.

CinnamintStick · June 13, 2012

I compared pictures on line. The stem looks longer than most of the jujubes that I see on line. It looking more and more like my sour cherry.

Sun City Linda · June 13, 2012

Maybe. It looks to me like some kind of ornamental in the cherry family. Cant think of the name.

Worth1 · June 15, 2012

Ok there is no olive that lives in Kentucky that looks like that, olives will die there.
It is too cold.

The more I look on line at pictures and the many varieties I am starting to go with the jujube.
There are more than 400 varieties.

The first jujubes were brought over here and promoted by the USDA in the early 20th century.
They imported the wrong ones to eat out of hand.
They imported the ones you dry out and eat in another way.
If you try to eat this kind they are not so good.
Thusly with the wrong variety imported and the poor response from people it never caught on.
Too bad the fresh eating ones are good and the tree thrives in the Texas climate.

I would like to add that there are many cultivars of the jujube.
Very popular in other parts of the world.

Worth

Steve Magruder · June 16, 2012

I think maybe I've identified the tree. I went through the tree identification guide here and ended up with Nyssa sylvatica, or black tupelo or black gum.

Links which further convince me:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Tupelo

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/54154/

Think I got it?

The funny thing is that a lot of pictures on the web show its fall foliage, and I can't remember what the fall foliage looks like for this tree (I've only been through two autumns with it). But the davesgarden.com link looks like a mirror image of what I see on my tree.

gardenpaws_VA · June 17, 2012

Looks like Nyssa to me - you'll have some very happy birds and bees around, even if you won't benefit directly from the fruit.

BarbJ · June 18, 2012

Hey, isn't there something called, "Tupelo Honey"? Maybe get a small hive to go with the tree? Then you can kinda harvest the tree? Lol, jk! It's a pretty tree for sure!

June 12, 2012	#3
Steve Magruder Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: Louisville, Kentucky (Zone 6B) Posts: 89	Well, olives are evergreens, I thought, and this tree loses its leaves during the winter. I agree though that the pictures of the fruits look similar. When I tried to figure this out last year, I was leaning toward plum, but I just couldn't be conclusive. I was hoping this year, the fruits go to maturity and inform me. (edited to correct myself) Last edited by Steve Magruder; June 12, 2012 at 09:02 PM.

June 12, 2012	#4
Mudman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NW Wisconsin Posts: 910	There may be different types of plums that grow down your way, but I have had a few and never have they had such thick shiny leaves as the ones you show. Also the plums don't cluster the way your fruit are clustering. __________________ Mike

June 15, 2012	#10
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Ok there is no olive that lives in Kentucky that looks like that, olives will die there. It is too cold. The more I look on line at pictures and the many varieties I am starting to go with the jujube. There are more than 400 varieties. The first jujubes were brought over here and promoted by the USDA in the early 20th century. They imported the wrong ones to eat out of hand. They imported the ones you dry out and eat in another way. If you try to eat this kind they are not so good. Thusly with the wrong variety imported and the poor response from people it never caught on. Too bad the fresh eating ones are good and the tree thrives in the Texas climate. I would like to add that there are many cultivars of the jujube. Very popular in other parts of the world. Worth Last edited by Worth1; June 15, 2012 at 11:51 PM.

June 16, 2012	#11
Steve Magruder Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: Louisville, Kentucky (Zone 6B) Posts: 89	I think maybe I've identified the tree. I went through the tree identification guide here and ended up with Nyssa sylvatica, or black tupelo or black gum. Links which further convince me: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Tupelo http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/54154/ Think I got it? The funny thing is that a lot of pictures on the web show its fall foliage, and I can't remember what the fall foliage looks like for this tree (I've only been through two autumns with it). But the davesgarden.com link looks like a mirror image of what I see on my tree. Last edited by Steve Magruder; June 16, 2012 at 11:05 AM.

June 12, 2012	#2
Wi-sunflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,591	I can't tell for sure.It looks like it could be either a plum or an olive. Because of the shininess of the leaf, I would lean to olive. Check out this search http://www.google.com/search?q=olive...w=1024&bih=653 Carol

June 12, 2012	#5
CinnamintStick Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Phelan CA Posts: 76	Could it be a jujube?

June 13, 2012	#7
Sun City Linda Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal Inland Posts: 2,705	Leaves on olives are narrow and gray / green.

June 17, 2012	#12
gardenpaws_VA Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Northern Virginia, USA - zone 7+ Posts: 161	Looks like Nyssa to me - you'll have some very happy birds and bees around, even if you won't benefit directly from the fruit.

June 18, 2012	#13
BarbJ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: California, USA Posts: 154	Hey, isn't there something called, "Tupelo Honey"? Maybe get a small hive to go with the tree? Then you can kinda harvest the tree? Lol, jk! It's a pretty tree for sure!