CHERRY

Showy cherry color slightly fragrant flowers. Large plant, blooming size.

Cherry of the Rio Grande, Eugenia involucrata. Small multi-branching tree or shrub. In the spring it is one of our early flowering tropical fruits and often blossoms in the first part of March. Blooming and fruiting season continues for several months into Summer. The delicious cherry, beautiful dark red to purple, produced soon after flowering. When ripe the the fruit can turn almost black and have a full cherry-like flavor. The plan is ideal for limited space landscapes since it can be kept as a bush or even as a container specimen and still produce adequate quantities of fruit. A relatively hardy plant, it can tolerate as low as low 20's F when mature.

Similar to the Cherry Rio Grande (Eugenia aggregata), but with larger fruit (2" fruit) and doesn't have the same problem with die back as the Cherry Rio. Fruit flavor is said to be superior to the Cherry Rio. Heavy producer. Fruits March-April.

Surinam Cherry, Pitanga - vigorous and quick to fruit, often producing the same year or by the next. This plant is a seedling from Black Surinam Cherry Lolita, known for its very sweet, juicy fruit with no aftertaste. The fruit is relatively large at about 1-1.2 inches, starting red and turning deep black when fully ripe. In our garden, these seedlings have come true to seed with black fruit, though some reports suggest they may occasionally produce red fruit as well.
Pitanga is a reliable producer with an upright, freely branching growth habit. It is also quite cold hardy, tolerating short periods of frost. Once established, the plant can handle temperatures in the upper 20s without damage.
See video about Pitanga.
Learn more: Surinam Cherry and Bermuda Christmas Pie

Barbados-Cherry, Acerola. The best source of vitamin C. Fast growing, fruits easily. Densely branched shrub with deep shiny green leaves. Tolerates alkaline soil. Has the highest vitamin C content of any fruit. Used in jellies, jams, freezes without losing its vitamin C content. The plant is drought tolerant and easy to grow.
See Article about Barbados Cherry
See Growing Barbados Cherry in container

Plumeria Cherry Pink features clean white petals with a vibrant cherry-red center that softly radiates outward. The color fades smoothly, creating a fresh, glowing look.
The petals are broad and slightly rounded, with a smooth, waxy texture and gentle gradients. Blooms form in neat clusters, giving a bright and tidy presentation.
A great choice if you want a classic white plumeria with a strong, eye-catching center.

The Vivid Red Cherry Miniature Azalea is a very cold hardy, compact, evergreen beauty that brings a burst of color to your garden throughout the year. With clusters of rich, cherry-red ruffled blooms, this azalea creates a stunning display in spring and fall. It thrives in partial shade, making it perfect for planting beneath oak or pine trees, or along shady walkways and driveways. This semi-dwarf variety grows to 2-3 feet tall and wide, maintaining a neat, upright form that requires minimal trimming.
Best planted in well-drained, acidic soil with high organic matter content, it appreciates regular watering, especially in extreme heat. Fertilize on regular basis to promote healthy growth and vibrant blooms. Vivid Azalea is ideal for use as a low-growing hedge, accent, or screen, and its shallow, non-aggressive root system makes it a great choice for tight spaces. Its glossy, dark green foliage remains evergreen, offering year-round interest even when it's not in bloom.
Prune back in late spring to maintain its shape and encourage branching, leading to more blooms. This variety, sometimes known as Azalea Amagasa Vivid Red Flowering Satsuki Azalea, is one of our favorites for adding vibrant, multi-season color to any garden.

Cedar Bay Cherry, Beach cherry - rare fruit plant from Eastern Australia. Juicy red fruit with very pleasant flavor.

Surinam Cherry, Pitanga - vigorous and quick to fruit, often producing the same year or by the next. This plant is a seedling from Black Surinam Cherry Lolita, known for its very sweet, juicy fruit with no aftertaste. The fruit is relatively large at about 1-1.2 inches, starting red and turning deep black when fully ripe. In our garden, these seedlings have come true to seed with black fruit, though some reports suggest they may occasionally produce red fruit as well.
Pitanga is a reliable producer with an upright, freely branching growth habit. It is also quite cold hardy, tolerating short periods of frost. Once established, the plant can handle temperatures in the upper 20s without damage.
See video about Pitanga.
Learn more: Surinam Cherry and Bermuda Christmas Pie

Barbados-Cherry, Acerola. The best source of vitamin C. Fast growing, fruits easily. Densely branched shrub with deep shiny green leaves. Tolerates alkaline soil. Has the highest vitamin C content of any fruit. Used in jellies, jams, freezes without losing its vitamin C content. The plant is drought tolerant and easy to grow.

Malpighia punicifolia - Dwarf Barbados-Cherry, Dwarf Acerola, Dwarf Pink Mound.
This dwarf form of Acerola makes a wonderful low-growing shrub or beautiful bonsai tree with edible fruit. Profuse bloomer, it is also a nice ornamental.
Due to its shallow and smaller root system, Acerolas can be interplanted with other crops more closely than many trees. Acerolas grows in marl, limestone, clay and other heavy soils as long as it drains well. Has the highest vitamin C content of any fruit. 1 Cherry is equal to 12 oranges. Used in jellies, jams, freezes without losing its vitamin C content. The plant is drought tolerant and easy to grow.
See Article about Barbados Cherry
See Growing Barbados Cherry in container