Cedar Bay Cherry (Eugenia reinwardtiana)
Grow a piece of paradise in your backyard with Cedar Bay Cherry! This evergreen tree or shrub is native to rainforests of the Pacific Islands and delights with bright glossy leaves, beautiful white flowers, and delicious sweet, orange-red fruit. Enjoy this exotic beauty as a stunning ornamental and a delicious fruit tree for your garden.
Cedar Bay, or Beach Cherry, is a small evergreen tree or shrub native to rainforests in northern Queensland, Indonesia, and the Pacific Islands. It is grown commercially on a small scale for its sweet fruit and as an ornamental shrub. Its glossy leaves, white flowers, and edible, orange-red fruit make it an appealing tree or hedge for home gardens.
Cedar Bay Cherry grows 8’ to 20’ high with a rounded crown. White flowers bloom from late spring to early summer, then develop into sweet fruits that taste like cherry with a hint of grape. The 1” cherries are a highly popular fruit in Australia and can be eaten out of hand, used to flavor candies and drinks, as pie fillings, chutneys, preserves, or as toppings for yogurts, ice cream, or salads. They are full of antioxidants, a good source of vitamin C, and they are reputed to lower cholesterol and help with sleep.
Like other members of the Myrtle family (Myrtaceae), the shiny, elliptical leaves are covered with oil glands that emit a fragrance when crushed, and Cedar Bay Cherry’s leaves give off a distinctive apple scent. New leaves are an attractive pink color before they mature into a bright green.
Cedar Bay Cherry grows in full sun to partial shade in moist, well-draining soil and is hardy in USDA zones 9 to 11.
Quick Care Guide
| Plant Type: | Perennial Fruit-Bearing Shrub/Tree |
| Harvest Season: | Late Spring to Early Summer (varies by species) |
| Mature Size: | Varies by species; typically 6-30 feet tall |
| Soil & Moisture: | Well-draining, slightly acidic soil; regular watering |
| Light Requirements: | Full Sun to Partial Shade |
| Growth Rate: | Moderate |
| Self-fertile: | Yes (most species) |
| Zone Hardiness: | Outdoors 9-11; Patio/Greenhouse 4+ |
| Propagation: | Our medium pot size plants are grown from seeds or cuttings; capable of producing fruit within 3-5 years. X-Large Pot size plants are capable of flowering and fruiting now. |
About Eugenias
Common Names: Eugenia, Pitanga, Surinam Cherry, Grumichama, Brazilian Cherry
Family: Myrtaceae
Origin: Tropical and Subtropical regions of South America, including Brazil
Eugenia is a diverse genus of tropical and subtropical fruit-bearing trees and shrubs known for their flavorful fruits, attractive appearance, and ornamental value. This group includes popular varieties such as Surinam Cherry (Eugenia uniflora), Grumichama (Eugenia brasiliensis), and Pitanga (Eugenia pitanga). Renowned for their glossy evergreen foliage, fragrant flowers, and tasty fruits, Eugenias are prized additions to gardens, particularly in warm regions. The fruits range in flavor from sweet to tangy, making them ideal for fresh eating, jams, jellies, and beverages.
Shop all of our Eugenia varieties.
Plant Type:
Perennial Evergreen Fruit Tree / Fruiting Shrub
Harvest Season:
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter (depending on location)
In Florida, the largest crop is in the Spring with a second smaller crop in the summer. Surinam Cherry fruits can develop and ripen quickly, only 3-4 weeks after the flowers open!
Mature Size:
10-12 ft tall and wide
Soil & Moisture:
Likes moist, rich well-draining soil.
Surinam Cherry Trees respond quickly to irrigation, the fruit rapidly becoming larger and sweeter in flavor after a good watering.
Light Requirements:
Full Sun, Part Shade
Self-Fertile:
Yes
Growth Rate:
Fast, Medium
Zone Hardiness:
Outdoors 9-12 (frost protection until established); Patio/Greenhouse 4+
Propagation:
Medium Pot Size: Our Surinam Cherry seedlings were cultivated from hand-selected varieties of great producing trees with optimal flavored fruit collected throughout our food forest. They are capable of fruiting within 1-2 years.
X-Large Pot Size: Our Grafted Black Surinam Cherry trees are capable of fruiting now.
See More:Shop all of our Surinam Cherry tree varieties.
Shop all of our Eugenia varieties.
