Wax apple is also called Jinshan wax apple, lianwu and tianwu.

Wax apple (Jinshan wax apple, lianwu, tianwu), Myrtaceae

Evergreen tree, 6-15 m tall. Bark brown, clear trunk height 2-4 m; crown oval. Leaves opposite, leathery. Oblong-elliptic, 12-25 cm long, 6-9 cm wide, entire, apex obtuse, base slightly concave or rounded, dark green above, with tiny glandular dots, midrib and lateral veins conspicuous on both surfaces, with marginal veins; petiole about 3 mm long. Cymes terminal or axillary; flowers white or pale yellow, stamens numerous. Berry top-shaped or shallowly cup-shaped, top flat and broad, concave in the middle, narrow below, 3-5 cm long and wide, pericarp fleshy, bright red and wax-like when ripe. There are varieties with dark red, pink and red-white fruits. Developed seeds 1-2 or none. Flowering period February to April; fruiting period March to July.

Native to Malaysia and India. Widely cultivated in various parts of Southeast Asia, and introduced in South China and Taiwan, China. Sun-loving, prefers a hot and humid climate, not cold-tolerant or tolerant of drought and poor soil, grows well in loose, fertile, moist sandy loam or alluvial soil. Strong resistance to air pollution.

Propagated by seeds, air layering or grafting. For sowing, mature fruits should be collected, peeled and sown immediately; air layering should be carried out in March to April.

The wax apple has luxuriant branches and leaves. With dense shade, elegant white flowers and striking bright red fruits, it is a beautiful ornamental fruit tree. Suitable as a landscape and courtyard shade tree and as a street tree. The fruit is edible; the original species has a certain odor, is rather fibrous and has a bland, astringent taste, not very palatable; however, improved varieties bred through selection, such as Taiwan red lianwu, are juicy, seedless, slightly fragrant, and refreshingly sweet.