Latin name - Eugenia involucrata

Known as one of the finest “Tropical Cherry” species, Cherry of the Rio Grande is sweet and slightly tart, with a deep wine-red color when ready to pick.  It has a slightly soft texture and is juicy and flavorful.  The tree is a handsome upright grower, and can be grown as a bush or shaped up as a standard tree form.  Growing at a moderate pace, you can expect fruiting to start when your tree is roughly 3-4 years old.  

The Cherry of the Rio Grande puts on a show of gorgeous white flowers once or twice a year, followed by delicious fruit, rich in vitamin C.  One of our favorite aspects of this tree is its striking dark green foliage and beautiful bark, making it a great choice for a focal point or border piece in your garden.  It can do well in partial shade but will grow and produce best in full sun.  Like other Eugenia species, Cherry of the Rio Grande responds well to fertilization and enjoys rich soil and adequate watering.

Somewhat rare in the nursery trade, we get excited to grow Cherry of the Rio Grande trees each year because we know each one will become a stunning and beloved addition to our customers’ gardens.

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Size: 10’ wide x 20’ tall if left unpruned.  Can be kept at 8-10’ with pruning.

Sun Requirements:  Full sun to partial shade

Cold Hardy: 20 degrees

Harvest Season:  Early Summer

Watering requirements:  Fairly drought tolerant when established, will benefit from extra watering.

Food Forest Layer: Canopy, Sub Canopy, Understory