Pimenta dioica - Allspice Tree Seedling

Looks very healthy. Will it crop for you when it matures?

I have two little seedling trees. The seeds came from the trees in Balboa Park's medicinal garden. The trees in Balboa Park produce heavy crops twice a year. I've seen other Allspice trees around, most tend to be no more than 25ft/8m tall.

I think I've read it takes about 2 to 3 years to produce a crop.

Here's photos of the trees in Balboa Park:

http://www.growsonyou.com/Delonix1/photos/Pimenta

You don't even have to worry if it produces fruits or not, because the leaves are just as good as the berries, as a flavoring. You get the same, spicy flavor from the leaves, as you do from the berries. But you have to use the leaves fresh, as they lose flavor when dried. I live in Hawaii, and we have Allspice trees here, and I've simmered Allspice leaves in barbecue sauce, and it is AWESOME. It's also excellent in a cup of black tea. Also, Allspice leaves simmered with pork and beans is delicious.

Rangersmith:

This plant is now a tree now. It has flowered and produced many berries. Yes, the leaves are more valuable to cook with than the berries. I do love the smell of the whole tree, also. :>)

I'll have to try some in barbecue sauce.

I'm originally from the Kalihi Valley District of Honolulu, Hawai'i. Which Island do you live on?

I live on the Big Island.

I do love the Big Island! Hilo is my favorite place even though it rains so much.

Hmmm, I don't know what to say, because Hilo is my least favorite place on this island. It is sooo ghetto, sooo run down, and the people there are so mean. But if you like to garden, then that's the place to be, since there's so much rain.

I never lived in Hilo; however, I never got that impression.

The place on the Island I never liked is on the Kona side. It looks so dry and too much lava. I just never liked that look.

The problem with Hilo, in my opinion, is the downtown area. It is full of rotten, crumbling, buildings that should be torn down. It is so third world looking there. Disgusting. Lowland Kona is indeed dry, but highland Kona is not.

The problem with Hilo, in my opinion, is the downtown area. It is full of rotten, crumbling, buildings that should be torn down. It is so third world looking there. Disgusting. Lowland Kona is indeed dry, but highland Kona is not.

Yes, highland Kona is very nice. It's cooler and lusher because it receives more rain. It reminds me a little of San Diego (as far as what grows there).

My Allspice trees are sooooo slow growing. I don't know why. They have been about 3 inches tall for a month, with just the slightest bit of growth.

Are they in pots or ground?

I know my tree grew super fast in a pot with lots of water. I think overall it's a slower growing tree.

They're in pots, in 50% redwood compost and 50% volcanic soil/dust, with a little manure. I haven't watered them heavily, just moderately. I hope you're right, that it's supposed to be a slow grower. I really love this species. I would take some leaves into my wife's work, from trees that grow around Kailua-Kona, and everyone would be so impressed with the fragrance.

I noticed when I put mine into a bigger pot it grew so much faster.