Eugenia - Plant Encyclopedia Results (Page 2)

Eugenia victoriana, also known as Sundrop, is a rare shrub or small tree that grows up to 10 feet tall. It has drooping branches and fine elliptical leaves with sunken veins, and produces clusters of white flowers. The fruit of Sundrop is sour and is often used to make juice or flavor liquor in Colombia. Fruit is large, about 3 to 4 inches in diameter, with a thin, shiny orange skin and 2 to 4 seeds per fruit. Sundrop is a good source of vitamin C and is rich in antioxidants, copper, magnesium, and vitamin C, which may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases and support skin health.

To grow Sundrop successfully in USDA Zones 10-11, it is best to plant it in acid soil that is moist and has high organic content. Sundrop is fairly compact and can be grown in a container, but it is sensitive to frost and may need to be protected or brought indoors in cold regions. No pruning is required for this fruit tree, but it should be placed in a bright, sunny area with temperatures above 55F. Eating Sundrop fruit can provide numerous health benefits. The fruit is loaded with antioxidants, copper, magnesium and vitamin C.

Note: the following latin synonyms for Cabelluda - Eugenia cabelluda, Eugenia tomentosa, Myrciaria glomerata, Paramyrciaria glomerata - may be taxonomically incorrect, although in some sources excepted. Refer to pictures for better identification of this plant.

Cabelluda is a large shrub or small tree, 10-20 feet in height, with multiple thin trunks, very handsome and of value as an ornamental plant. The young stems and leaves are pubescent. Small white flowers are perfect and occur in axillary clusters. Fruits are about 1 inch in diameter, round, yellow when fully ripe, pubescent, with one or two seeds. Cabelluda fruits are delicious. They resemble large gooseberries in appearance and are sweet and aromatic, with a flavor similar to apricot. These are eaten fresh, and can also be used for juices and jams. The fruits are very nutritive and rich in vitamins. Fruiting occurs in 2-3 years, when the plant is hardly 3-4 feet tall.

Cabelluda grows best in moist, fertile soils, and fruits well in full sun as well as partial shade. As a tropical tree, it is fairly cold tolerant and can withstand temperatures as low as upper 20's for a short period. Soft young leaves and twigs may get some cold damage, however even if severely damaged, in Spring the plant readily grows back from the roots.

Cabelluda is rare in plant collections, however it is popular in cultivation around Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where its fruit ripen in October-November.

The Surinam cherry is the easiest to grow of all edible Eugenias and an excellent fresh fruit. The native range of this small tree or bush extends from Surinam through Uruguay. It is very popular in Southern landscaping for its red-colored new foliage against the dark green of older leaves along with its red to black, ribbed fruits. The plant blooms profusely at the end of the spring, and then, occasionally the rest of the year. Fruit develop and ripen in just 3 weeks from flowering. They are deeply 8-ribbed and usually about 1 inch in diameter, although plants bearing fruits nearly 2 inches in diameter have been reported. The juicy sweet-acid pulp encloses a fairly large seed.

The fruit can be excellent or only fair, depending on the variety. The deep red, almost black fruited varieties produce sweeter fruit without that tart aftertaste that is specific for Surinam Cherry. The fruit can be eaten fresh, used to make pies, jellies and jams. The pulp is a good source of calcium, and a fair source of phosphorus and iron. In Brazil, the juice is fermented into wine or vinegar.

Propagation is almost always by seed, however superior varieties can be grafted. Red type and black type forms usually come true to seed. Surinam Cherry is an excellent choice for a hedge with regular trimming, or as a pretty specimen tree; the plant will be happy growing in a pot as well. Cold hardy (to lower 20's for mature plants) and undemanding, it grows well under minimum care providing irrigation which is especially important for young plants; established plants are drought tolerant. If left untrimmed, the bush growing in the ground eventually may reach 15' tall and 15' wide. In small yards, the tree can be cut back hard if it becomes too large; it will form a the bushy shape in no time. This tropical plant can successfully be grown in a pot indoors in the cooler zones. Indoors, misting of the plants is helpful in winter.

See video about this plant.

Learn more: Surinam Cherry Lolita and Bermuda Christmas Pie

One of the rarest, it tends toward columnar growth. Fragrant flowers, red berries.

Araza is a tropical shrub or small tree that can reach a height of up to 15 feet with drooping branches and fine foliage. It blooms in the summer with large, showy white flowers that are followed by 2 inch wide, bright-yellow fruits which have an excellent sour-acid flavor and are very fragrant. Fruit are very juicy, with a strong fruity aroma, usually ripening by Fall. Fruit are soft, fragile and don't ship well, so the only way to enjoy them is to grow your own plant. These fruits contain a high amount of vitamin C, much more than the average orange. They can be eaten raw, although their acidic taste means they are more commonly used to flavor ice cream, sweets and beverages.

Araza is known to be quite sensitive to the cold and this is reflected in the USDA Zones where it can be grown. It does its best in Zones 9 to 11, where a warm and humid environment will guarantee healthy growth and a hefty crop of tart, juicy fruit. Moderate watering is required to avoid root and leaf problems, with full sun to semi-shade being the optimal conditions for fruitful production.

As well as its culinary uses, Araza possesses incredible medical benefits. Compounds isolated from its fruits are known to possess antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumorensic properties.

Araza is quite a rare plant in cultivation, and its soft and fragile fruits pose a problem when it comes to shipping. The best way to experience this beautiful and unusual fruit is to grow your own.

A bushy shrub or small tree reaching 6-7 m high, trunk 20-30cm in diameter. Berry globose or ellipsoid, 10-20mm long, tomentose.

This low-maintenance plant requires regular water when it is young and moderate water when mature. It grows best in climates where the average winter temperature is above freezing. It also prefers full sun or semi-shade in order to produce a well-rounded and healthy growth habit.

Luma apiculata produces white and off-white flowers in the late spring and early summer. These flowers are loved by butterflies and hummingbirds. The plant also produces a berry that provides food for birds. The berries have a sweet taste and can be used in jams.

If you wish to grow this small tree in colder climates, it is possible to grow in a pot. This will give you the ability to move the plant depending on the temperature, and provide protection from the cold. When the temperature drops, make sure to provide protection, such as covering with fabric, to help the plant survive and thrive.

The plant is a great addition to any landscape. With its small stature and its ability to thrive in full sun or semi-shade, it is a low-maintenance and versatile plant that is great for both hedging and topiary. Its small, aromatic leaves and white and off-white flowers will be sure to provide a spectacular show of color in the late spring and early summer. This small tree can bring beauty to any garden.

One of the most popular native fruit of Brazil. This is a slow-growing rather bushy tree up to 15 ft tall, often multi-stemmed with opposite small leaves. The larger trunks and branches have bark which peels off in small patches which is found to be very attractive. The tree is evergreen, but once or twice during the year it will shed large numbers of leaves generally corresponding to heavy rains. Small white flowers are produced along the larger trunks and branches ("cauliflora" means "flowers growing on trunk"). Fruit development is very rapid, usually taking only 20-25 days from flower to full maturity.

The fruit forms on the trunks on short stems, with 2-3 fruits sometimes in a cluster. When trees are in heavy fruit, you cannot see the branches for all the large numbers of dark purplish-black fruits that look like large grapes. They have a white pulp with several small seeds. Skin is thick, and delicious melting pulp somewhat resembles Northern Black Currant in flavor. Jaboticaba fruits are ready to harvest when they have developed a full color and are somewhat soft like a ripe grape. The fruits can be eaten fresh, used in jellies, jams, ice creams, wines or can be frozen whole to enjoy throughout the year. Usually, Jaboticaba will bear fruit only in 6 to 10 years from seed. Once mature, the trees may produce between six to eight crops of fruit per year.

Jaboticaba is fairly wind tolerant but not salt tolerant, but it is relatively cold hardy, taking down to 23 F for short periods without serious damage. Young plants may be injured at around upper 20's F. As the root system is shallow and dries out quickly, the tree requires regular irrigation. It thrives better when planted in heavily mulched organic soils. In their native area, Jaboticabas are frequently flooded by rising rivers for weeks at a time without serious damage, so they are considered water-tolerant. The plant will do best in acid soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5, somewhat like gardenias. In highly alkaline soil the plant often develops micronutrient deficiency.

Because of its slow growth, Jaboticaba is perfect for growing in containers. Mature trees in 3-5 gal pots can be many years old. Due to small leaves and dwarfish growth habit, Jaboticaba is often used as bonsai. The tree is small enough to fit into many parts of the garden landscape. Some old bonsai specimens can fruit.

See video about a mail ordered Jaboticaba tree.

Myrciaria floribunda or Guavaberry is a small tree that grows to about 10-20 ft. tall in its natural environment, with a rounded crown, and ornamental foliage. It prefers semi-shade with regular water, but can tolerate moderate water. In cold climates it can be grown in a container and moved indoors for winter protection.

The flowers of the guavaberry are white to off-white and delicately fragrant, while the fruit is yellow orange to dark red, about half the size of a cherry, and has excellent tangy acidic flavor.

When growing guavaberry trees in containers, it is important to choose a pot that is slightly bigger than the root system and provides proper drainage. The soil should be well-draining and nutrient-rich. Plant the guavaberry in the soil and keep it moist and watered regularly. Fertilize your guavaberry every 1-2 months with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer. To prune and maintain the size, remove broken or dead branches, thin the crown, and if necessary, shape the branches. In cold climates with winter freezing temperatures, it is best to take your potted guavaberry indoors for winter and back outdoors when the temperatures rise again. With proper care, your guavaberry will thrive year-round.