CHERRY OF THE RIO GRANDE

Eugenia aggregata

Cherry of the Rio Grande -- best tropical cherry tree to plant if you live in zone 9 - 11 and crave the taste of fresh cherries!

(Though we now have real northern cherries that work in zone 9!  Read up on those here.)

A sweet, tart cherry fruit that looks like you'd expect a cherry to look!

What's the flavor? 

Depends on who you ask.

Young trees are more like a cross with a Surinam cherry: a little more tart than sweet, but juicy.   Mature trees are closer to a real northern cherry -- sweeter with a little tart, depending on the soil.

But some cherry tasting connoisseurs will dispute just how much it resembles a Bing.   Still, it's the closest us Floridians in zone 10-11 will get to growing cherries in the backyard!

Add more trace minerals to your organic feedings and the fruits of Cherry of the Rio Grande become sweeter.

The Cherry of the Rio Grande is native to Surinam and northern South America.  It is not the same as the Surinam cherry.  It is widely grown in central and south Florida.

Established trees are cold tolerant down to 20-22°  F
Allegedly, there's one growing on UF campus since the 1980's, surviving the frost year after year; but protect young trees below 28°F until they are well established.