June plum

Spondias dulcis, ambarella, June plum or golden apple, is a fast-growing tropical tree whose crisp, sour, green fruits are eaten with salt and chilli, pickled and made into juices. In Kerala it is ambazhanga, and in Sri Lanka it is a favourite snack. Its seed is surrounded by stiff, spiny fibres, so it must be eaten carefully.

Botanical name

Spondias dulcis Parkinson

Family

Anacardiaceae

Tamil

Ambarella

Hindi

Amra

Parts used

Ripe and green fruit

Habit

June plum; hog plum is a cousin, not this fruit

Last updated

2026-10-26

How to recognise June plum

It is a medium-sized tree with pinnate leaves of glossy, oval leaflets that drop briefly in the dry season.

Small white flowers grow in large, loose sprays at the branch tips.

The fruit is oval, about the size of an egg, green and crisp when young, turning golden-yellow and softer when ripe.

Inside, the seed is covered in stiff, spiky fibres that stick out into the flesh. Hog plum, Spondias pinnata, has smaller fruit and is native to India.

Fruits hang in long bunches and drop when ripe.

Traditional use of June plum

Kitchen

Green ambarella is eaten raw with salt and chilli, pickled, or cooked into chutneys and curries in Kerala, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia.

South and Southeast Asian food practice

Pacific

The tree was spread through the Pacific islands as a fruit tree, where it is called vi.

Pacific food history

Modern notes on June plum

Nutrition studies describe the fruit as a good source of vitamin C and fibre.

Dwarf varieties that fruit when small have made it popular in home gardens.

June plum safety

Eat around the spiny seed fibres, especially when giving the fruit to children.

Ecology and sourcing

It is native to Melanesia and Polynesia and is grown throughout the tropics.

It grows quickly from seed or cuttings and fruits within a few years.

Birds eat the ripe fruit.

Related plants

Also in Anacardiaceae

Questions about June plum

Is June plum hog plum?

No. Hog plum is Spondias pinnata, native to India.

What older names does Spondias dulcis go by?

Spondias cytherea.

How is June plum eaten?

Green with salt and chilli, pickled, or ripe as fruit.

Can I grow June plum in a pot?

Dwarf varieties fruit in large pots.

Sources

• Spondias dulcis Parkinson — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
• Wikidata item Q500383 (Spondias dulcis)

Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.