Florida Nursery Plant Sheets

Pitangatuba: The Star Cherry

Common Name(s): Pitangatuba, Star Cherry

Scientific Name: Eugenia selloi (Eugenia neonitida)

Days to Harvest: 3-4 weeks from flowering

Light: Full sun to partial sun

Water: Moderate to high

Soil: Well draining, high organic content

Fertilizer: 2-3 times per year using a balanced fertilizer

Pests: Scale and caterpillars

Diseases: Root rot and leaf spot

Soursop: Annona muricata

The soursop tree is low-branching and bushy but slender because of its upturned limbs, and reaches a height of 25 or 30 ft (7.5-9 m). Young branchlets are rusty-hairy. The malodorous leaves, normally evergreen, are alternate, smooth, glossy, dark green on the upper surface, lighter beneath; oblong, elliptic or narrowobovate, pointed at both ends, 2 1/2 to 8 in (6.25-20 cm) long and 1 to 2 1/2 in (2.5-6.25 cm) wide. The flowers, which are borne singly, may emerge anywhere on the trunk, branches or twigs. They are short stalked, 1 1/2 to 2 in (4 5 cm) long, plump, and triangular-conical, the 3 fleshy, slightly spreading, outer petals yellow-green, the 3 close-set inner petals pale-yellow.

Morton, J. 1987. Soursop. p. 75–80. In: Fruits of warm climates. Julia F. Morton, Miami, FL.