Florida Nursery Plant Sheets Cherry of the Rio Grande – Eugenia Involucrata

The Cherry of the Rio Grande grows on a narrow shrub of the same name, that reaches an average of 5 meters tall and has dark green, glossy leaves. A Cherry of the Rio Grande is oblong and measures around 2 to 3 centimeters. This beautiful small tree has very attractive dark glossygreen waxy leaves and very ornamental bark. deep purple cherry sized fruit approximately 3 weeks from the time of flowering. Like a pomegranate, the remnants of the flower bud (called a persistent calyx) are prominent at the end of the fruit, appearing like green beaks. The showy white flowers are followed by fruits that emerge with a pale pink to red skin and mature to a dark red and almost purple-black color. The skin is thin and hides a paler-colored flesh and one to two small white seeds The fruit has a sweet juicy cherry flavor eaten fresh or can be picked at maturity, frozen for later use or used in jellies, jams and juices. The flavor is described as a combination of cherry and plum, and some even say hints of banana.