Photo courtesy Rare Fruit Club WA - rarefruitclub.org.au
Cherry of the Rio Grande - Orange
Eugenia involucrata
Myrtaceae family
The Cherry of the Rio Grande usually produces dark purple to black fruit, but this very rare specimen produces yellow to orange fruit with exceptional flavour reminiscent of canned apricots.
The fruit can be eaten fresh, used in jellies, jams and juices, or picked at maturity and frozen for later use. Fresh storage is possible for only a few days.
Pitomba is the closest fruiting relative, and it is also related to the Surinam Cherry, Pitanga and Grumichama.
Native to southern Brazil, and areas of Paraguay and Uruguay. The tree reaches an average of 5m tall.
Tree Provenance
Gifted to Lennox Community Garden by a local rare fruit tree collector.
Tree Maintenance
Pruning
Eugenia involucrata
Myrtaceae family
The Cherry of the Rio Grande usually produces dark purple to black fruit, but this very rare specimen produces yellow to orange fruit with exceptional flavour reminiscent of canned apricots.
The fruit can be eaten fresh, used in jellies, jams and juices, or picked at maturity and frozen for later use. Fresh storage is possible for only a few days.
Pitomba is the closest fruiting relative, and it is also related to the Surinam Cherry, Pitanga and Grumichama.
Native to southern Brazil, and areas of Paraguay and Uruguay. The tree reaches an average of 5m tall.
Tree Provenance
Gifted to Lennox Community Garden by a local rare fruit tree collector.
Tree Maintenance
Pruning
- Immediately after harvest as needed.
- The tree has a shallow root system but does have some tolerance to dry conditions. Water weekly during very dry periods.
- Spring (early): liquid seaweed, poultry manure.
- Summer: compost around drip line.
- Autumn: liquid seaweed, sulphate of potash.
Cherry of the Rio Grande Orange at LCG January 2025 (photo credit: Jacqui Lachmann)
Cherry of the Rio Grande Orange at LCG August 2022 (photo credit: Graham Bond)
