Eugenia uniflora L., 1753

Common name(s): Surinam Cherry, Pitanga, Brazilain Cherry, Cayenne Cherry, Suriname Cherry

Family: Myrtaceae Synonym(s): Eugenia arechavaletae Herter, Eugenia costata Cambess., Eugenia dasyblasta O.Berg, Nied. Eugenia decidua Merr., Eugenia indica Nicheli, Eugenia lacustris Barb.,Rodr., Eugenia michelii Lam., Eugenia microphylla Barb. Rodr., Eugenia myrtifolia Salisb., Eugenia oblongifolia O.Berg, Arechav., Eugenia oblongifolia O.Berg, Nied. nom. illeg., Eugenia strigosa O.Berg, Arechav., Eugenia willdenowii Spreng., DC. nom. illeg., Eugenia zeylanica Willd., Luma arechavaletae Herter, Herter, Luma costata Cambess., Herter, Luma dasyblasta O.Berg, Herter, Luma strigosa O.Berg, Herter, Myrtus brasiliana L., Myrtus willdenowii Spreng., Plinia pedunculata L.f. Plinia petiolata L. nom. illeg., Plinia rubra L., Plinia tetrapetala L., Stenocalyx affinis O.Berg, Stenocalyx brunneus O.Berg, Stenocalyx costatus Cambess., O.Berg, Stenocalyx dasyblastus O.Berg, Stenocalyx glaber O.Berg, Stenocalyx impunctatus O.Berg, Stenocalyx lucidus O.Berg

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington on 6th January, 2020 at Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Queensland

Bark (Lower)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Juvenile Leaf

Taken by Ken Harrington

Leaf (Front)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Flowers

Taken by Unkown

Fruit

Taken by Unknown Photographer

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Plant Properties

Origin(s)

Argentina

Argentina: Indigenous

Bolivia, Plurinational State of

Bolivia: Indigenous

Brazil

Brazil: Indigenous

Guinea-Bissau

Guinea-Bis: Indigenous

Paraguay

Paraguay: Indigenous

Suriname

Suriname: Indigenous

Uruguay

Uruguay: Indigenous

Plant Type

Evergreen Fruit Shrub , Evergreen Fruit Tree

Evergreen Fruit Shrub,

Evergreen Fruit Tree

Climate Range(s) - Habitat

Tropical-Sub, Tropical

Tropical-Sub,

Tropical

Climate Range(s) - Tolerance

Temperate Warm, Mediterranean, Tropical-Sub, Tropical, Tropical Monsoon

Temperate Warm,

Mediterranean,

Tropical-Sub,

Tropical,

Tropical Monsoon

Aspect Range(s)

Sun - Full, Shade - Light

Sun - Full,

Shade - Light

Habitat Range(s)

Deciduous Forests-Sub tropical, Deciduous Forests-Tropical, Rainforest - Sub-tropical, Rainforest - Tropical

Deciduous Forests-Sub tropical,

Deciduous Forests-Tropical,

Rainforest - Sub-tropical,

Rainforest - Tropical

Habitat Zone(s)

Forest Margins, Coastal margins, Foothills, Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's, Moist areas, Moist Slopes, Open areas, Riparian areas, Sandy Moist, Scattered, Understory, Water sides, Well drained, Wet Pockets, Wind Protected

Forest Margins,

Coastal margins,

Foothills,

Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's,

Moist areas,

Moist Slopes,

Open areas,

Riparian areas,

Sandy Moist,

Scattered,

Understory,

Water sides,

Well drained,

Wet Pockets,

Wind Protected

Mature Height

5-6m, 6-7m, 7-8m

5-6m,

6-7m,

7-8m

Mature Width

2.5-3m, 3-4m, 4-5m

2.5-3m,

3-4m,

4-5m

Plant Shape

Bun - Narrow

Conical

Bun - Narrow,

Conical

Growth Rate

Slow

Maturity

6-8 yrs

Life Span

30-50yrs, 50-75yrs, 75-100yrs., 100-150yrs

30-50yrs,

50-75yrs,

75-100yrs.,

100-150yrs

Leaf Properties

Colour (front)

Glossy, Green Dark

Glossy,

Green Dark

Colour (back)

Green

Shape(s)

Lanceolate

Oval

Ovate

Lanceolate,

Oval,

Ovate

Aroma

Spicy-Moderate

Texture (front)

Glabrous

Smooth

Glabrous,

Smooth

Texture (back)

Glabrous

Smooth

Glabrous,

Smooth

Leaf Length(s)

30-40mm, 40-50mm

30-40mm,

40-50mm

Leaf Width(s)

15-20mm, 20-25mm, 25-30mm

15-20mm,

20-25mm,

25-30mm

Margin

Entire

Bark / Stem / Culm Properties

Colour(s) Upper

Brown , Brown-red

Brown,

Brown-red

Colour(s) Lower

Grey Light, Grey-brown

Grey Light,

Grey-brown

Texture(s) Upper

Glabrous

Smooth

Glabrous,

Smooth

Trunk / Stem Construction(s)

Wood Fibres / Solid

Trunk / Stem / Culm Cross Section

Terete

Trunk / Stem Feature(s)

Bark - Sheds, Short Strips , Stemmed-multi , Stemmed-single

Bark - Sheds, Short Strips,

Stemmed-multi,

Stemmed-single

Flower Properties

Gender: Bisexual

Time(s)

Spring Late - Summer Mid

Flower Colour(s)

White

Flower Shape(s)

Stellate

Recurved

Stellate,

Recurved

Aroma(s)

Sweet-slight

Flowers per Arrangement

1-2, 2-3, 3-4

1-2,

2-3,

3-4

Pollinator(s)

Bats, Bees, Birds, Butterflies

Bats,

Bees,

Birds,

Butterflies

Fruit Properties

Type

Bacca

Axillary , Pendulous

Axillary,

Pendulous

Outer Colour(s)

Black, Glossy, Orange, Purple, Red

Black,

Glossy,

Orange,

Purple,

Red

Outer Texture

Glabrous

Ribbed

Smooth

Waxy

Glabrous,

Ribbed,

Smooth,

Waxy

Ribbed-Deeply

Aroma

Spicy-Slight

Season of Fruiting

Spring, Summer, Autumn Early

Spring,

Summer,

Autumn Early

Maturation for Fruiting

3 yrs., 4 yrs.

3 yrs.,

4 yrs.

Root Properties

Type

Fibrous

Plate

Fibrous,

Plate

Invasiveness

Medium

Soil Properties

Type(s)

Clay-loam, Loam, Sandy-loam, Stony, Calcareous, Hummus Rich, Organic Matter

Clay-loam,

Loam,

Sandy-loam,

Stony,

Calcareous,

Hummus Rich,

Organic Matter

pH Range(s)

Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline, Alkaline

Acid,

Slightly Acid,

Neutral,

Slightly Alkaline,

Alkaline

Condition(s)

Damp

Moist

Damp,

Moist

Fertile , Deep , Well Drained

Fertile,

Deep,

Well Drained

Salinities

Slight

Waterlogging Class

W0 – Low tolerance

Watering Requirements

WR2 - keep soil moist but never soggy, WR3 - never let soil dry out

WR2 - keep soil moist but never soggy,

WR3 - never let soil dry out

Other Properties / Uses

Bee Attraction

Moderate

Bird Attraction

Nectar, Insect, Fruit, Habitat

Nectar,

Insect,

Fruit,

Habitat

Butterfly Attraction

Moderate

Frog Habitat

None

Coastal

2nd Line

Edible(s)

Fruit, Leaves

Fruit,

Leaves

Fire Retarding

Moderate

Drought Tolerance

Poor

Frost Tolerance

Poor

Snow Tolerance

None

Landscape Use

Good

Maintenance(s)

Pruning - Formative, Pruning - Shaping

Pruning - Formative,

Pruning - Shaping

Pests/Diseases

Caterpillars, Scale

Caterpillars,

Scale

Special Purpose(s)

Coppiced, Drain Clogger, Fire Retarding, Flowers-aromatic, Fruit-decorative, Garden-Bali, Garden-Courtyard, Garden-Edible, Garden-Foliage, Garden-Formal, Garden-Informal, Garden-Orchard, Garden-Pottager, Garden-Rainforest, Garden-Tropical, Garden-Woodland, Hedge-formal, Hedge-informal, Litter Issue - Fruit, Playground Friendly, Shade Tolerant, Shady Moist, Soil Binder, Specimen, Sunny Moist, Tolerant-Deer, Tolerant-Kangaroo's, Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares, Windbreak

Coppiced,

Drain Clogger,

Fire Retarding,

Flowers-aromatic,

Fruit-decorative,

Garden-Bali,

Garden-Courtyard,

Garden-Edible,

Garden-Foliage,

Garden-Formal,

Garden-Informal,

Garden-Orchard,

Garden-Pottager,

Garden-Rainforest,

Garden-Tropical,

Garden-Woodland,

Hedge-formal,

Hedge-informal,

Litter Issue - Fruit,

Playground Friendly,

Shade Tolerant,

Shady Moist,

Soil Binder,

Specimen,

Sunny Moist,

Tolerant-Deer,

Tolerant-Kangaroo's,

Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares,

Windbreak

Fertilising Requirements

FR5, FR6

FR5,

FR6

Wind Tolerance

Moderate Winds

Weed Potential(s)

Australia

QLD: Environmental Weed

Papua New Guinea

PNG: Naturalised

South Africa

South Afri: Naturalised

United States

Hawaii: Naturalised
Florida: Naturalised

General Notes

A very ornamental, lush, fruiting shrub - small tree that can fruit twice a year in tropcal or sub-tropical climates. Pruned bushes can yield 2.5-3.5 kg of fruit per plant, unpruned bushes can yield up to twice that amount. Pick fruit as it virtually falls off the bush and use in that day or refrigrate for up to a week. The fruit is very high in vitamin C and can be eaten fresh or made into juice, jams, pies, jelly or the juice can be fermented into vinegar or wine. Can be used as a screen, hedge or specimen plant. Prune after 6-7 years for shape to improve harvest.

Several cultivars are available with differing coloured fruit and taste from sweet to tart.

Eugenia uniflora 'Black Star', ripe fruit black
Eugenia uniflora 'Lolita', ripe fruit bright red
Eugenia uniflora 'Zill Dark', ripe fruit purple