From rural to décor: The use of jabuticaba trees in decoration

Visitors to CASA COR São Paulo 2016 were surprised by one of the exhibits. And not only them, but also professionals in the field, the press and design and decoration enthusiasts. Architect Nildo José's space was featured on the cover of several publications and was rated as one of the most beautiful in the exhibit. It was Estúdio Jabuticaba , a 43 m² loft that, in addition to its theme of making the most of space, and a bench that served as several other pieces of furniture, being a multifunctional piece that ran throughout the entire space, also had another item that caught the attention and enchanted everyone who visited the space: a hanging jabuticaba tree. Nildo planted the tree to raise awareness of nature, its importance in our lives and its preservation. He used a technique called kokedama , a Japanese procedure generally used in bonsai that works the roots of the plant as if they were a ball of wool.

The fruit tree is native to Brazil and has been known for over 400 years. It brings a series of benefits to its planting, maintenance and harvesting. In addition to being grown in gardens, backyards and orchards, the jabuticaba tree can also be grown in pots as an ornamental plant. It is suitable for all regions of the country because it is extremely adaptable. It is capable of developing both in regions with lower temperatures, such as the South, and in regions where the average annual temperature exceeds 30ºC, such as the North and Northeast. The only thing it cannot withstand is prolonged droughts and strong frosts. It takes 10 to 15 years for the tree to bear fruit, and its harvest occurs from January to February and from August to September. When it is in the fertile period, its striking characteristics, trunk and branches covered (sometimes even roots) with fruit, are what bring charm and beauty to the place where it is planted. And for those who think that this is only possible at decoration and design shows, you are mistaken. Now it is possible to have one at home too. A company specialized in jabuticabeira trees offers already developed trees. It is called Jabuticabeira.com.br , which sells the species through online orders, and has a kind of virtual showroom , with videos and detailed presentations of the products, planting and care tips and virtual service, with a focus on understanding the differences of the cured jabuticabeira trees sold by the company. Also using the tree in the décor is the CLS Arquitetura office, formed by architects Graziela Costa, Kívia Costa, Zuleica Lombardi and Érika Steckelberg, who designed the Living Room with Dining Room and Pool at CASA COR Minas Gerais 2016. The group added a jabuticaba tree to the family living area, to refer to the tradition of harvesting and tasting with family and friends.