Surinam cherry, Pitanga

Where does Surinam cherry grow?

Found in: Africa, Amazon, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central America, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, French Guiana, Ghana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guianas, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Marquesas, Martinique, Mexico, Micronesia, Mozambique, Norfolk Island, Pacific, Panama, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Paraguay, Philippines, Pohnpei, Puerto Rico, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, South America, Sri Lanka, St Lucia, Suriname, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Uganda, Uruguay, United States, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Notes: There are about 550 Eugenia species. They are mostly in tropical and subtropical South America. It has antioxidant activities.

Status: Trees have been grown and distributed in some coastal areas in Papua New Guinea.

Growing Surinam cherry, Pitanga

Cultivation: Trees are mostly grown from seeds but can be grown from cuttings. Seeds should be fresh. Seeds grow in 3-5 weeks. Seed which are extracted from the fruit then washed and dried can be stored for a month. Seed can be sun dried for 7 days then stored in cool open containers for a few months. Seed can be planted 1-2 cm deep in nursery beds than transplanted when 20-30 cm tall. Trees can be trimmed and pruned to form hedges. Ground layering and suckers could probably be used to produce new plants. Tips from trees with better fruit types can be grafted onto seedling root stocks. It can be trained as a hedge.

Edible Uses: The ripe fruit is eaten fresh. It can be cooked or used for jams and other products. The leaves are used as a substitute for tea.

Production: It is a slow growing plant. Several crops of fruit are produced each year. Flowers or fruit can be on the tree throughout the year in tropical locations. Trees start to produce fruit after about 3-4 years. Fruit are mature 5-6 weeks after flowering.

Nutrition Info

Surinam cherry, Pitanga Photos

References

Surinam cherry references

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