The large, plate-shaped leaves of the balsam apple are impressive from afar. But it's worth taking a closer look. There is a flower hidden between the green leaves.
What does the blossom of the balsam apple look like and when does it bloom?
The balsam apple flower is white to pink, obovate and about 7.5 cm wide. It usually appears in summer and provides a source of food for insects through its sweet, sticky secretions. In Central Europe, however, the Clusia rarely blooms due to the unfamiliar climate.
Balsam apple blossom facts
- Color: white, partly pink
- Flowering time: mostly in summer
- Shape: obovate
- Size: approx. 7.5 cm wide
Food source for insects
Did you know that the Clusia has both male and female and hermaphrodite flowers? Female flowers secrete a sticky secretion whose sweetness attracts insects. Male flowers also produce a sticky sap. However, the sweet scent is more pronounced in females. It lives up to the name of the plant, because the vanilla-like aroma is truly balm for the soul.
Rare spectacle
The balsam apple is one of the non-native ornamental plants. The succulent originally comes from South America. Due to the unusual climatic conditions that he has to deal with in this country, the flower only appears in very rare cases.
