Description

Jamaican Ackee (Blighia sapida)

Ackee is a tall evergreen tree with an edible fruit and has fragrant flowers.  Even though the fruit of this tree is edible, it can be poisonous.  The fruit must only be eaten when fully ripe.  If eaten when unripe, this can lead to death.  Ackee trees tend to grow best in sunny positions.  They can grow well in a range of soils, including infertile, rocky soils.  Established plants are drought tolerant.

Medicinally, sap from terminal buds is placed in the eyes to treat ophthalmia and conjunctivitis.  When leaf twigs are ground-up, they are rubbed on the forehead to treat migraine.  The leaves are used in the treatment of fever and vertigo.

Fun Fact: The scientific name honours Captain William Bligh who transported the fruit from Jamaica to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, England in 1793.