Photo courtesy Rare Fruit Club WA - rarefruitclub.org.au
Cherry of the Rio Grande Orange
Eugenia involucrata
Myrtaceae family
The fruits emerge with a pale pink to red skin and mature to a dark red, almost purple-black, colour, and have a sweet juicy cherry flavour, with a hint of banana. The fruit has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and 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 maintenance
Eugenia involucrata
Myrtaceae family
The fruits emerge with a pale pink to red skin and mature to a dark red, almost purple-black, colour, and have a sweet juicy cherry flavour, with a hint of banana. The fruit has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and 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 maintenance
- Pruning - little pruning required.
- Fertilise with a fruit-tree-type fertiliser at least three times a year, and particularly during flowering and fruiting.
- Although the tree has a shallow root system, it has some tolerance to dry conditions but at the cost of reduced yield, so water weekly during very dry periods.
- Mulching is beneficial.
- Prefers a slightly acidic soil.
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)
