The tree flourishes in California, especially in the vicinity of Santa Barbara, though the climate is not congenial for production or ripening of fruit. In southern Florida, the tree was rather commonly planted in the past. Here, as in Hawaii, fruiting is heavy, only a small amount of the crop has been utilized in home preserving. The jambolan has lost popularity, as it has in Malaya where it used to be frequently grown in gardens. Heavy crops litter streets, sidewalks and lawns, attracting insects, rapidly fermenting and creating a foul atmosphere.
People are eager to have the trees cut down.
Where conditions favor spontaneous growth, the seedlings become a nuisance, as well. In southern Malaya, the trees are small-leaved with small flower clusters. Farther north, the variety called 'Krian Duat' has larger, thicker leaves and red inner bark. Fruits with purple flesh are more astringent than the white-fleshed types. It prospers on river banks and has been known to withstand prolonged flooding.