BRAZILIAN CHERRY
Botanical Name: Eugenia unifloraDescription
Other Names: Pitanga, Surinam Cherry
A highly ornamental shrub with spreading branches and aromatic foliage. The Brazilian cherry has delicate white flowers that are followed within 3 weeks by a ribbed fruit that changes from green to orange to maroon-red when fully ripe. The young bronze foliage turns a glossy deep green when mature and deep red in cold, dry weather. The fruit is delicious eaten out-of-hand or as an ingredient in jelly, sauce and pies. Refrigeration enhances the flavour and makes these a good substitute for strawberries. Weed warning: This tasty and very hardy pumpkin shaped berry is popular as a kids treat. While in a urban situation it holds little risk however the fruit is very appealing to birds and when planted in regional areas it has been observed to seed into native vegetation remnants, where it can continue to self seed and inhibit the growth of native flora. It has the potential to grow in open sun and shaded areas. If in close proximity to subtropical rainforest remnants the tree should be netted during fruiting to avoid introduction into the native vegetation.
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Plant Information or Specifications
Sub Categories (HashTags)
Colour Flesh Red (#ColourFleshRed), Eat Fresh (#EatFresh), Eat Jam (#EatJam), Edible Hedge Or Screen (#EdibleHedgeOrScreen), Jam Pickle And Preserve (#JamPickleAndPreserve), Landscape Hedge (#LandscapeHedge), Leaves Evergreen (#LeavesEvergreen), Size Fruit 1-2cm (#SizeFruit1-2cm), Size Height 2-5m (#SizeHeight2-5m), Size Plant Width 2-5m (#SizePlantWidth2-5m), Tangy (#Tangy), Taste Flesh Sour (#TasteFleshSour)
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Preferred Climate
Tropical, Subtropical
Learn About Climate Zones
Seedling
Learn About Propagation Methods
Max Height (when in the ground with good conditions)
2-5m
Plants required to Pollinate
1 (Self Pollinating)
Learn about Pollination
Can it Handle Frosts?
Sometimes
Amount of leaves in Winter?
All Leaves (Evergreen)
Quarantine Restrictions to these Areas
SA, WA
Suitability in Pots
Yes
Water Requirements
Moderate Watering
Is it a Dwarf Fruit Tree?
Can be pruned to 2m
Time to Fruit/Flower/Harvest
5+ Years
Sun or Shade
Full (Sun:80%-100%)
Preferred Soil Type
Good Drainage
Soil pH
Neutral (6.6-7.3pH)
Fruiting/Harvest Months
March, April, May, June
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Customer Comments on Brazilian Cherry
Tree Information on growing, planting, pruning, maintenance, ripening, taste, pick or bonsai tips. But mainly how to grow a Brazilian Cherry Share Your Advice or ask questions on our Forum
Brazillian Cherry
Take Control of Your Health and Escape the Sickness Industry '05 : This book says that this tree has very high Vitamin C ! The author has been informed several times that this fruit has normal amounts of Vit.C but they have not corrected the mistake ! | Rolf - Bankstown, NSW 25-Sep-2006
Brazilian Cherry
The fruit book called: Discovering Fruit & Nuts by Susanna Lyle.Printed 2006 is one of the best I have seen. Says the Brazilian Cherry has very good levels of vitamins C (45mg /100mg of flesh) and vitamin A (~2600IU0).They also contain thiamine,riboflavin | Les Garrett - Ulverstone, TAS. 04-Aug-2007
Brazilian Cherry
Does anyone have a receipe for a jelly using this fruit | My Buick - brisbane, QLD 07-Nov-2007
Brazilian Cherry
To Alexandra Bennett:- I live in Townsville and in my front yard I have growing what is, so I've been recently told, a Brazillian cherry tree (fruiting at the moment). Approx 14yrs old I believe and very healthy. | Vicki - Townsville, QLD 02-Oct-2008
Brazilian Cherry
I have two Brazilian Cherry plants thriving in Mackay...and is very boutiful this year. | Kelly Kidner - Mackay, QLD 07-Oct-2008
Brazilian Cherry
Got My first taste straight of a tree growing in rockhampton, absolutly love the fruit | Kevan Beckett - Rockhampton, QLD 26-Oct-2008
Brazilian Cherry
This is not a tip but several questions. Do you need two of them for pollination? Otherwise, how do you pollinate? How long do you have to wait for fruit? | Michael Paris - Maida Vale, W.A. 04-Nov-2008
Brazilian Cherry
Michael you only need one tree and there is no need to pollinate. I have one in the backyard and it is a prolific fruiter. It is likely to fruit quite young. | Correy - Brisbane, QLD 05-Nov-2008
Brazilian Cherry
Our five year old Brazilian cherry has only produced one fruit so far, earlier this year, even though the bush is very healthy. Perhaps we are too far south? | Paola - Berry , NSW 20-Nov-2008
Brazilian Cherry
I added water and roughly the same quantity of fruit to sugar. cook until it reduces and thickens fairly well. when ready ( saucer test) let the jam cool and blend every thing skin and small seeds ( they soften during the cooking process. bottle | Carol Helliwell - Wauchope, NSW 11-Apr-2009
Brazilian Cherry
We have one of these growing in the back yard, very very tasty plump juicey fruit when it is nice dark blood red, shame i didnt notice it fruiting earlier. | David Corbett - Brisbane, QLD 28-Apr-2009
Brazilian Cherry
I have a friend who lives next to my house, and she has a brazillian cherry tree hanging over my yard. she told me i can take any that grow on my side. But i want to grow my own So how long does it take normally to fruit. | Alex Kavanagh - Brisbane, QLD 28-Apr-2009
Brazilian Cherry
I have been given a Brazil cherry 10 cm high. can I grow it in the uk indoors? it is very good for diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol depends which leaves you take. | David Harris - Lower Heyford, OXON 02-Jul-2010
Brazilian Cherry
Wow i live in townsville to and have a brazilian cherry tree i rember as a child it being very fruitful but now many years on and a good chop it is at present in the most beautiful blossom and one only fruit! its great to see more in townsville. | Kate Baker - Townsville, QLD 06-Sep-2010
Brazilian Cherry
I find them very moreish- on their own or with cream. Easy to grow, likes good drainage- I always get a good crop | Maurice Neill - Gladstone, QLD 14-Oct-2010
Brazilian Cherry
They taste awfull | J Pickersgill - Q L D , BRIS 02-Nov-2010
Brazilian Cherry
They taste fabulous in salads | Melina - Macksville, NSW 07-Dec-2010
Brazilian Cherry
Brazillian Cherry Jelly. Take as many cherries as you can, wash and put in a heavy based pan with pulp of 4+ tamarinds. Simmer over low heat until cherries are mushy and separate from the seeds. Strain, measure juice. 3/4 cup sugar to each cup juice. Cook | Julianne Hartmann - Ravenshoe, QLD 27-Feb-2011
Brazilian Cherry
I have one in my backyard and a friend of mine told me that it loves growing near rivers! From now I will be giving it lots of water!! | C Ally - Brisbane, QLD 14-Mar-2011
Brazilian Cherry
I have a beautiful fruiting Brazilian Cherry tree in Taree (NSW)area. They have delicious somewhat tart fruit and grow easily from seed. I love them straight from the tree but I am going to try making some of them into jam.Very ornamental. | Helen - Forster, NSW 08-May-2011
Brazilian Cherry
I live 50kms north of Perth, our Brazillian Cherry is 4yrs old and loaded with fruit,we love them, with their slight tart taste. So-- Sandgropers grow them well!!! Procured from Herbs'R'Us | Marg Budiselik - Yanchep, W.A. 10-Jun-2011
Brazilian Cherry
We have a brazillian cherry in our back yard and it's the sec ond year it has fruited we never touch it and it's absolutely covered in fruit. | Alice Briggs - Ipswich, QLD 05-Nov-2011
Brazilian Cherry
Use for jam. Has someone got a jam recipe please? WIn the fifties towering over the backyard lavatory, in Sandgate. Mum made jam from them. | Leonie Barber - St Kilda, VIC 12-Dec-2011
Brazilian Cherry
I didn't know what I had until I researched the fruit. Yummieee! Now I have two bushes. | Pauline J - Esk, QLD 13-Dec-2011
Brazilian Cherry
I have 1 in Perth --delicious but leave till dark red otherwise too tart. Bumper crop this year-most likely due to the extra rain-anyone know how long they live? Mine is approx 15 yrs and any tips for growing from seed-thanx Cherry Christmas!! | Jen Costello - Perth, WESTERN AUSTRALIA 29-Dec-2011
Brazilian Cherry
Jen stick a seed in a pot and put it on a east facing window sill. couple of weeks ,bingo. i have one growing across the road ,thats where i got the seed. must be why they have weed potential,very easey to grow from a seed. | Rod M - Mt Nebo, QLD 09-Feb-2012
Brazilian Cherry
I have five Brazilian Cherry trees in my back yard, I have two against the fence, two advantages here lovely back drop against the fence and you get the benefits of the fruit. I eat them fresh and make jam. They are evergreen all year round. | Adrian Lees - Rockingham, , WA 24-Mar-2012
Brazilian Cherry
We find grows best in loose soil with plenty compost & rotted manure.Water well in summer,less in cooler months.Prune to required size&shape after fruiting.We prefer to leave fruit on tree until dark& soft& then is strong flavour,& not sour. | Ray Doblo - Tweed Heads, NSW 15-Jul-2012
Brazilian Cherry
Have 3 Brazilian Cherry shrubs approx 6 yrs old. 1 flowered April 2012,and a cherry ripened in July. The other 2 shrubs have 5 0r 6 cherries developing. The shrubs are in a sheltered position and have new growth. Just planted a seed and some cuttings. | Julie - Albany, WA 07-Aug-2012
Brazilian Cherry
I live in Townsville and have a brazillian cherry in a large pot fruiting well. A question for Townsville people how big would it go if I planted it in the ground as in the tropics growth is prolific in most plants. | Sharon Taylor - West End , QLD 13-Oct-2012
Brazilian Cherry
bees pollinate them, they absolutely love the flowers | Corinne - Redland Bay, QLD 21-Nov-2012
Brazilian Cherry
In Central Coast NSW our Surinam Cherry is a yearly bonus -plenty of fruit for jams and jellies | Peter Carnovale - Springfield, NSW 16-Dec-2012
Brazilian Cherry
I just planted one in geraldton wa. I'll let you know how it go's. I'm trialling it on bore water with EC 5.6. So far so good! | Benn Kinivan - Geraldton, WA 24-Jan-2013
Brazilian Cherry
I grew up in Brazil and surrounded by this plant known as "pitanga" . If pruned properly, it can become a nice perimeter fence. It can be grown like lilly pilly, since they are sort of related... | Beto Boton - Buderim, QLD 12-Sep-2013
Brazilian Cherry
I have one in my garden growing underneath a bottlebrush (because of frost risk) so the watering regime is rather dry. It survives but the fruit are quite unpleasant and taste very resinous and sour. | Simone Heimoana - Narrabri, NSW 15-Oct-2014
Brazilian Cherry
Known in Brazil as "PITANGA", usually planted to become a "green fence" the fruit is no sweet, it is tangy and sweeten only when VERY red. In Brazil it is used for juice, jam, and of course mixed with sugar, vodka and ice... (seeds must be removed! | Beto Boton - Buderim, QLD 15-Oct-2014
Brazilian Cherry
Black Brazilian Cherry from Daleys last year flowered and fruited this spring. So sweet and yummy when colour turns very dark. | June - Dennis, QLD 07-Oct-2015
Brazilian Cherry
I have 2 B. Cherries about 5 years old. They started bearing quite prolifically about 2 years ago, yum, & bees love the flowers. They only occasionally get a watering but have thrived in dry times, wet times, frost and hot weather. 2.5 metres high now. | Bill Wilkinson - Gunalda, QLD 06-Nov-2016
Brazilian Cherry
To people who say the fruit is 'tart'. I have a friend who has acres of Brazilian Cherries. She tastes the first fruit of each new plant and if it's tart she culls the plant. So it would seem some fruit is sweet and others not so nice. | Helen Flouch - Nundah / Brisbane, QLD 12-Jan-2019
Brazilian Cherry
Planted 5 Brazilian Shrubs June 2018, aprox. 2ft tall in ground , now April 2019 5 ft tall, producing fruit, more than expected. | Jim Pietszak - Ft Pierce suberb, Flori 11-Apr-2019
Brazilian Cherry
The fruit is very variable - some trees bear fruit that's unpleasantly resinous, while others are very sweet | Peter Richardson - Turramurra, NSW 09-Nov-2019
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