They are really slow. The one I've got in the ground hasn't grown more than a few inches in over five years. If you really want Miracle Fruit, I'd buy a mature tree rather than wait.

We bought a plant in a 1 gallon pot about 25 years ago. The person who sold it to us said " you're young, you'll see it bear fruit".It took a looooong time but it is now about 3 feet tall and wide and is bearing fruit several times a year. It likes acid fertilizer. Good luck!

Regina

Thanks....I was afraid thats what you would say. Can it also grow from clippings? Just wondering if you would get fruit faster that way.

There have been many posts on Miracle Fruit and I have to admit I was very curious about this "tree"/"bush".
I purchased mine at Jene's Tropicals here in St. Pete about 2 yrs. ago. It was approx. 2' tall and very healthy. The "tree" is maybe a foot taller and has yielded about 50 berries. I have tried without success to germinate the seeds and all I've researched has recommended that you begin with the tree- as seeds are difficult to germinate and successfully mature.
Not sure if Jene's have them in stock but I do know that they ship. Here is their site.......www.tropicalfruit.com
Good luck. I love my little tree and their magical taste-altering berries,
Sue.
PS. There's probably a good chance someone from this area of the state is headed to Ricky's Swap and they could carry it over to you and you'd save the delay and shipping charges. Just a suggestion. I live a few blocks from Jene's and I've always been pleased with all of their plants/bushes/trees.

The berries that drop from my bush eventually germinate, so I have quite a few little plants at the base of my bush. I haven't tried propagating it from clippings.

Regina

I meant to mention...because Miracle Fruit "trees' are such slow growers, you may want to keep them potted. Mine is in a clay pot that I can move around as the weather changes. They thrive in acidic soil, diffused light and very humid conditions. I have a few sites in my "favorites" if you're interested that I would be happy to pass along.
Again, check out previous threads under "Miracle Fruit" and you may come across any questions.
Now you've got me interested in buying another one! Never know when those berries will turn from green to red!
Good luck and let me know if I can help,
Sue.

This is one bush I have bought as a relatively mature plant, (fruiting).
If you don't know me, well I'll tell, you I'm about the cheapest, most frugal gardener you'll ever come across.
But they will not grow fast enough in my lifetime to satisfy me.
You do need to have one! So be willing to shell out $30 or a bit more for a plant that's healthy and flowering or fruiting. You can keep it in a pot forever, in a fertile, loose, acid mixture, repotting every few years as the potting soil breaks down. Partial shade seems to be preferable to full sun.
Mine's in the garden, about 3' by 3' for years. You can prune them lightly. I feed it mostly compost and give it a minor element spray every spring. A dose of gardenia fertilizer at the beginning of the rainy season and it fruits in flushes all summer and fall. It's flowering now and putting out a few berries. The neighborhood children are
asking almost daily if there are any miracle fruits because my calamondin tree is next to it and the key lime nearby is always dropping ripe fruit. I get more enjoyment giving the neighbors and kids the experience than I get from them myself.
But that key lime squeezed in water on a hot afternoon or that evening mojito with No sugar, and just that one miracle berry, really brighten up a day.
The seeds do germinate under the bush, but transplanting them has been disappointing.
I highly recommend you all have one. There's room in everyone's yard to tuck a nice evergreen bush somewhere.
There is a taller growing tree type too, so know which you are buying. Both are wonderful.

Treefrog

Thanks for the advice guys....I will definitely have to buy one eventually :-)