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Fruit Salad the Fruit Salad is a colloquial term for different varieties, both overseas and in Australia.

Colors

PinkOrangeYellowRedApricot

Description

Fruit Salad is a colloquial term for a group of related, mostly Australian multicolor plumeria varieties sharing common traits: wavy leaf margins, a kink in the flower stem, and dramatic response to heat. With heat, both the primarily orange and primarily yellow forms turn reddish-orange. The original registered tree is held by its owner and is in PSA records as 'Giant Aussie Sunburst' (common name Giant Aussie Orange, renamed because PSA does not permit fruit names in registered flower names). Also known in some circles as Sacred Gardens Giant. Many similar 'Fruit Salad' cultivars exist and are frequently conflated as synonyms, but side-by-side growing shows them to be distinct varieties. A mature tree can carry several thousand flowers per season, borne on most branch tips in large, tightly clustered inflorescences of typically 10 to 20 open blooms per cluster. Flowers have very slight petal overlap (usually only the lower 10 to 25 percent, sometimes none), obovate petals with rounded tips, and petal folding that can make tips appear pointed. Reflexing usually occurs in extreme temperatures. Backsides show an orange ground with a pale red stripe along the full length of the petal (sometimes absent), buds are orange with a red spiral, and petals feel rubbery. Foliage is elliptical with an acuminate tip and characteristic undulating, wavy margins; petioles are typically pink or orange; leaf scars are D-shaped with a straight top edge. Plants are sturdy, compact and thick-stemmed with good, compact branching. Fruit Salad varieties rarely set seed, attributed to the kinked flower stem inhibiting pollinators, and are susceptible to rust. Other color-based forms include an orange rainbow with round, well-substanced petals and mild sweet fragrance on a vigorous, balanced plant; a 2.5 to 3 inch semi-compact form with sweet scent and good keeping quality; and a 2.5 inch orange and yellow rainbow with moderately overlapping rounded petals. Related Australian varieties from the same or similar parentage include Cooktown Sunset, Weipa Sunset, Miracle Pink, Heart of Gold, Gold Coast Peach(y), Mango Magic, and Solar Flare (among the first Australian cultivars registered with PSA).

Appearance

Multicolor flowers, most commonly orange or yellow with heat-induced shifts toward solid orange with light red and gold streaks. Petals are obovate with rounded tips (sometimes appearing pointed due to folding), slightly overlapping (lower 10 to 25 percent, sometimes not at all), and feel rubbery. Reverse is orange with a pale red stripe the full length of the petal (sometimes absent). Buds are orange with a red spiral. All Fruit Salad flowers have a characteristic kink in the flower stem. Flowers can reach 4+ inches; larger forms include Brad's and Giant Aussie.

Bloom

Extremely prolific; mature trees produce several thousand flowers per season. Flowers borne on most branch tips in tightly clustered inflorescences, typically 10 to 20 open blooms per cluster. Rarely sets seed, attributed to the kinked flower stem inhibiting pollinators.

Fragrance

Strong, spicy and fruity; described as best of the fruit-salad group.

Growth & Foliage

Sturdy, compact tree with thick stems, good branch production and a compact branching habit. Leaves are elliptical with acuminate tips and characteristic undulating, wavy margins. Leaf scars are typically D-shaped with a straight top. Petioles are typically pink or orange. Some forms are tall, others not.

Cultivation Tips

Easy to flower. Susceptible to rust. Improves with age and heat.

Provenance

Colloquial Australian grouping. The original tree is registered with PSA as 'Giant Aussie Sunburst' (common name Giant Aussie Orange; also called Sacred Gardens Giant). It was among the first group of Australian cultivars registered with PSA, alongside Miracle Pink, Heart of Gold, Gold Coast Peach(y), Mango Magic, and Solar Flare. The first Australian cultivar ever registered went to Paula of Australia. Many Australian varieties, including Cooktown Sunset and Weipa Sunset, appear to share similar parentage.

Also Known As

Apricot DelightakaApricot DreamingakaApricotakaAussie SunsetakaEvening SunsetakaFirespriteakaFruity PassionakaGiant Aussie Orangesimilar toMango DelightakaMary RoseakaNeridasakaOld GoldakaPumpkin PieakaSummer SunsetakaSunset GoldakaSunset HeavenakaTemptationakaWest Oz Apricotaka