Cherry of Rio Grande

Eugenia involucrata

This exquisite small tree boasts captivating dark, glossy-green, waxy leaves and a striking ornamental bark. Its eye-catching white flowers are succeeded by deep purple, cherry-sized fruits approximately three weeks after flowering. This fruit serves as a popular alternative to traditional Prunus Cherries in warmer climates. The fruit possesses a delectably sweet, juicy cherry flavor, suitable for consumption fresh, freezing for later use, or for making delectable jellies, jams, and juices.

This compact tree is an ideal choice for small backyard orchards, making it well-suited for container cultivation, consistently yielding an abundance of fruit even when potted. This feature is especially advantageous, as it allows for easy netting during the fruiting season, a necessity given the tree's popularity among birds. Furthermore, this tree is highly ornamental and requires minimal maintenance and pruning to maintain its aesthetic appeal. It can also be employed as a hedge.

 This tree, belonging to the Myrtaceae family, In its native Brazilian habitat can grow up to 10 meters in height. However, it typically attains a more manageable height of 4-5 meters. It exhibits moderate growth, thriving with regular, balanced nutrient applications and frequent watering during flowering and fruit development. Nevertheless, the tree itself is fairly drought-tolerant in drier years, although it can endure temperatures as low as zero degrees Celsius.