🍒 Red Surinam Cherry – 3 Gallon

Eugenia uniflora • Landscape-Ready Evergreen Edible Hedge 🌿

If you’re ready for immediate structure, privacy, and fruit — this is the size that delivers.

The 3-gallon Red Surinam Cherry is a well-established, landscape-ready evergreen shrub that brings glossy foliage, red new growth, fragrant blooms, and uniquely ribbed tropical fruit — all in a hedge-forming plant that thrives in subtropical climates.

This isn’t a starter.

This is a foundation plant.

Stronger roots. Faster hedge. Earlier harvest. 🍒🌿

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🌿 Botanical Overview – Eugenia uniflora

🌱 Quick Facts – 3 Gallon Size

Category	Details
Botanical Name	Eugenia uniflora
Common Names	Red Surinam Cherry, Pitanga
Plant Type	Evergreen shrub / small tree
Container Size at Sale	3-gallon nursery container
Estimated Age	14–24+ months established
Average Height at Sale	24–40 inches (seasonal variation)
Mature Height (Unpruned)	15–25 ft tall
Maintained Hedge Height	6–12 ft
Mature Width	10–20 ft wide
USDA Zones	8b–11
Cold Hardiness	~22–24°F once established
Sun Requirement	Full sun to partial shade
Wind Tolerance	Moderate
Salt Tolerance	Mild coastal tolerance
Spacing (Hedge)	10–15 ft apart
Spacing (Orchard)	20+ ft apart

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🌬️ Winter Performance – Stronger & More Resilient

At the 3-gallon stage, Red Surinam Cherry has:

• A more developed root system
• Greater cold resilience
• Faster canopy recovery after stress

In Florida and Gulf Coast climates:

• Mature plants tolerate short drops to 22–24°F
• Brief leaf drop may occur below 28°F
• Spring flush restores canopy

This is one of the better evergreen edible hedge options for zone 9–10 landscapes.

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🍒 Fruit & Flavor – Complex and Distinct

Let’s be honest — this fruit has personality.

Fruit Description

• 1 inch ribbed cherry
• Ripens green → red → deep crimson
• Thin skin, juicy flesh
• 2–3 seeds

Flavor Profile (Fully Ripe)

• Sweet-tart base
• Aromatic resin undertone
• Slight pine-like spice note
• Subtle herbal complexity

When fully ripe (dark crimson), sweetness improves and resin softens.

Some love it fresh.

Others prefer it cooked or blended.

That complexity makes it ideal for savory applications.

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🍽️ Culinary Applications – Where It Shines

Surinam Cherry is not just a snacking fruit — it’s a culinary ingredient.

Excellent uses:

• Savory chutneys
• Pork glazes
• Fruit reductions
• Hot sauce bases
• Pitanga wine
• Mixed-fruit preserves
• Tropical salsas

In Brazil, pitanga juice is common.

In Caribbean kitchens, it becomes jam or sauce.

The flavor is dynamic — and best harvested fully ripe.

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Origin & Cultural Story

Native to Brazil, Suriname, and northern South America, Eugenia uniflora became globally popular as an edible hedge plant due to:

• Dense branching
• Excellent pruning tolerance
• Evergreen habit
• Dual ornamental and edible function

“Pitanga” comes from the Tupi word meaning “red.”

For centuries, it has served as both landscape structure and backyard fruit source.

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Invasiveness Transparency

Some reports in parts of South Florida suggest potential invasiveness.

Our direct experience:

• We have grown full-sized trees for years.
• We have not observed uncontrolled spreading.
• We have not seen ecosystem disruption locally.
• We have not seen problematic volunteer seedlings on our property.

Bird dispersal is possible, but we have not observed aggressive colonization.

Responsible planting is always encouraged.

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🌿 Ornamental Power

This plant is a visual standout:

• Glossy dark green foliage
• Bright red new leaf flush 🌿
• Fragrant white flowers 🌸
• Deep red ribbed fruit 🍒
• Dense hedge structure

The 3-gallon size already shows strong branching, making it ideal for:

• Privacy hedges
• Windbreaks
• Screening
• Courtyard trees
• Statement evergreen shrubs

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🌞 Seasonal Production – Florida Focus

Spring: Heavy bloom

Late Spring–Early Summer: Main fruit crop

Fall: Possible light second crop

Winter: Evergreen unless frost stressed

Leaf yellowing in cold snaps is temporary.

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🌱 Best Practices for Planting & Care – Eugenia uniflora

After Shipping

Allow plant to acclimate 1–2 weeks before transplanting.

Transplant when soil moisture is balanced and plant shows active growth.

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High & Tight Planting Method

When planting Red Surinam Cherry:

1. Dig hole slightly wider than container.
2. Plant at same depth.
3. Firm soil tightly around root ball.
4. Top dress with compost + biochar + azomite.
5. Apply 2–3 inches hardwood mulch (keep off trunk).

Planting video:

https://youtu.be/RRQFY30qdA8?si=rRIcsbLlVAVYotfI

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Watering

First 2 Weeks (In Ground)

• Daily watering

After Establishment

• Weekly irrigation
• Increase during fruiting
• Drip irrigation preferred

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Fertilization

• Balanced organic fertilizer 3x per year
• Micronutrient supplementation if needed
• Avoid excessive nitrogen

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Pruning

✂️ Excellent hedge plant

✂️ Responds extremely well to shaping

✂️ Maintain 6–8 ft for easy harvest

✂️ Prune after fruiting cycle

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🌿 Companion Guild (From Our Collection)

Enhance growth with:

• 🌱 Pigeon Pea – nitrogen fixer
• 🌼 Mexican Sunflower – pollinator magnet
• 🌾 Vetiver – soil support
• 🌿 Perennial Peanut – nitrogen groundcover
• Guava or Jaboticaba for layered tropical planting

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🔍 Troubleshooting – Red Surinam Cherry

⚠️ Issue	Cause	✅ Solution
🍂 Yellow leaves	Overwatering	Improve drainage
❄️ Leaf drop	Cold stress	Protect during freeze
🌸 No fruit	Low sunlight	Increase exposure
🍒 Resinous taste	Underripe harvest	Allow full ripening
🐛 Aphids	Ant activity	Control ants organically

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📦 Shipping – 3 Gallon Size

3-gallon plants ship more securely than smaller sizes.

Best suited for Florida, Southeastern US & Texas.

We ship nationwide via UPS Ground every Monday from Florida.

Extreme weather during transit is beyond our control — buyer discretion advised.

Allow short recovery period before transplanting.

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🏡 Local Pickup

GreenDreams Nursery & Farm

🌾 18709 US Hwy. 41, Spring Hill, FL 34610

🕘 Tues–Fri 9AM–5PM | 🌞 Sat 8AM–3PM

We carry larger hedge-ready sizes not listed online.

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🌿 Beyond the Plant: GreenDreams Services

We design edible hedges and regenerative landscapes across Florida.

• 🌳 Onsite consultations
• 🚜 Installation & project management
• 🚚 Compost & soil delivery
• 🌾 Wholesale regenerative supply

Build evergreen privacy and tropical harvest — starting with Red Surinam Cherry.