Pink Wampee (Clausena excavata)
Pink Wampee is a very rare and unique coldy hardy tropical fruit tree native to India and Southeast Asia. Pink Wampee trees grow up to 25 feet tall and produce giant clusters of flowers and small pink berries. The translucent lipstick pink fruit has a soft texture and unique flavor that is sweet and citrusy with notes of fennel, coriander, licorice, and coffee.
The show stopping color of the berries makes it an excellent garnish. Pink Wampee grows excellently in subtropical and tropical climates but is also cold hardy into the mid or even lower 20's.
Medicinally, in Thailand and Southeast Asia, Pink Wampee is cultivated for the use of it's bark, branches, and roots as a potherb for variety of ailments.
Plant Type
Tropical/Subtropical Evergreen Fruit Tree
Harvest Season
Summer, Fall
The fruits ripen in July and August. Mature trees may yield 100 lbs (45 kg) of fruits in a season.
Soil & Moisture
Pink Wampee is not picky about soil! It's quite tolerant of a range of soils, including the deep sand and limestone of southern Florida but thrives best in rich loam. Likes moisture but is also drought tolerant. It requires watering in dry periods though good drainage is essential.
Light Requirements
Full Sun, Part Shade
Self-Fertile
Yes
Growth Rate
Medium
Zone Hardiness
Outdoors 9-11 with frost protection until mature; Patio/Greenhouse 4+
Pink Wamppe is subtropical to tropical, and young and mature trees have been scarcely hurt by brief exposure to 28º to 30º F in Florida, but they have been killed at temperatures of 20º F and lower.
Propagation
Grown from seed. Seedlings bear fruit in 3 years.
