Myrtaceae
Rio Grande Cherry (Eugenia involucrata)
Eugenia involucrata
A cold-hardy, frost-tolerant fruit tree for full sun in fertile, well-drained ground. Water young trees in dry spells, prune to shape, and be patient: it starts fruiting in its sixth or seventh year.
Every 7 days
Bright indirect
-11° - °C
% - %
Categories
What is Rio Grande cherry?
Rio Grande cherry (Eugenia involucrata) is a medium-care plant from the Myrtaceae family. Eugenia involucrata is a fruit tree native to the Atlantic Forest of southern and southeastern Brazil, from Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro down to Rio Grande do Sul, and to Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, including araucaria forest, from 30 to 1700 m. It is an evergreen shrub or tree of 5 to 15 m...
Rio Grande cherry grows up to 15.0m, watering every 7 days. It is not suitable for indoor environments and safe for pets.
Unlike many popular species, Rio Grande cherry is safe to keep around pets.
How to Care for Rio Grande cherry?
TLDR: Rio Grande cherry needs Bright indirect, watering every 7 days, and temperatures between -11-30°C with 40-70% humidity.
How Often Should You Water Rio Grande cherry?
Keep the soil moist for the first two years, watering about once a week when it does not rain. Established trees only need water in long droughts. Never let it sit waterlogged: the species does not grow in wet soils.
How Much Light Does Rio Grande cherry Need?
Full sun. Young plants tolerate partial shade, but the tree grows and fruits better in sun.
What Is the Best Soil for Rio Grande cherry?
Fertile, deep, well-drained sandy clay soil. It does well on granitic, volcanic, sedimentary or alluvial soils as long as they do not stay wet. Add organic matter at planting.
What Pot Should You Use for Rio Grande cherry?
Best in the ground. Young trees can spend a year or two in a large, deep pot with drainage, but they need to be planted out to grow and fruit.
What Is Rio Grande cherry and Where Does It Come From?
Eugenia involucrata is a fruit tree native to the Atlantic Forest of southern and southeastern Brazil, from Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro down to Rio Grande do Sul, and to Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, including araucaria forest, from 30 to 1700 m. It is an evergreen shrub or tree of 5 to 15 m with a narrow crown, glossy foliage and pale bark that peels in plates. From late winter into spring it bears showy white flowers full of stamens, much visited by bees. The pear-shaped berries, 1.3 to 2.3 cm long, turn red to wine-coloured when ripe, between September and January in Brazil, with juicy sweet-sour flesh. It is not related to the true cherry (Prunus).
How to Propagate Rio Grande cherry?
Seed
The seed loses viability in under two weeks, so sow it fresh. Germination is often low, so sow several. Bare-root seedlings transplant poorly.
- 1 Collect ripe fruit from the tree or as soon as it drops
- 2 Clean off the pulp by rubbing the seeds in a sieve under running water
- 3 Dry briefly in the shade and sow right away
- 4 Sow one per pot in sand or vermiculite and keep moist
- 5 Plant out with the root ball intact
Materials needed:
Layering
Impractical because the branches are upright and hard to bend. Seed is the usual method.
- 1 Bend a low branch down to the ground
- 2 Bury a section and pin it in place
- 3 Keep moist until it roots
- 4 Separate it from the parent gradually once it shoots
Materials needed:
How Big Does Rio Grande cherry Grow?
TLDR: Rio Grande cherry can reach up to 15.0m tall with Slow growth rate.
Max height
15.0m
Growth rate
Slow
Foliage
Evergreen
Plant Uses
Ornamental
Great for decoration
Edible
Can be consumed
Medicinal
Medicinal properties
Medicinal Uses
- Leaf tea used in Brazilian folk medicine against diarrhoea and as a digestive
Culinary Uses
- Fresh ripe fruit
- Jams, sweets and juices
- Liqueurs
Is your plant showing symptoms?
Click on the symptom to discover possible causes:
What Diseases Commonly Affect Rio Grande cherry?
TLDR: Rio Grande cherry is susceptible to 3 known diseases. Monitor regularly for early detection.
Rust
Rust is a common fungal disease caused by fungi in the order Pucciniales that affects a wide variety of plants. The disease gets its name from the characteristic orange, yellow, or reddish-brown pustules that appear on leaves, resembling metal rust. This obligate fungal parasite requires living plants to survive and can cause significant economic losses in agricultural crops.
Wax Scale
Scale Insects
Scale insects are small sap-sucking pests that appear as brown, shell-like bumps on plant stems and leaves. There are over 25 species, divided into armored (hard) and unarmored (soft) scales. They feed by piercing plant tissue and extracting sap, which weakens the plant and can lead to yellowing, stunted growth, and even death if left untreated. They also excrete honeydew, which attracts ants and promotes sooty mold growth.
Fun Facts
In São Leopoldo, Brazil, a tree that has fruited for about two centuries was made a municipal monument by law.
A single tree can keep producing for up to 200 years.
The name involucrata refers to the crown of sepals left at the base of the fruit, like a wrapper.
Frequently asked questions
How long until a Rio Grande cherry bears fruit?
When does it flower and fruit?
Is it frost hardy?
What are its main pests?
Is it related to the common cherry?
Compare with similar plants
| Attribute | Difficulty | Light | Watering | Pet Safe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Fieldcap | Medium | Low light | 2d | ⚠️ |
| Azalea | Medium | Partial shade | 3d | ⚠️ |
| Muriel's Bamboo | Medium | Partial shade | 3d | ✓ |
| Bougainvillea | Medium | Direct sun | 7d | ⚠️ |
