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🚚 Shipping Update:
We’re now shipping nationwide across the continental U.S. again! 🌱
📦 Please note: Shipping to California remains paused due to agricultural regulations.
🌿 Surinam Cherry ‘Zill’s Black’ (Eugenia uniflora • Pitanga)
Imagine a glossy evergreen shrub that gifts you candy-sweet cherries—almost black, glistening like gemstones, and bursting with a tropical cherry-plum flavor kissed with spice. This is ‘Zill’s Black’, a Florida-born refinement of the classic Surinam Cherry—selected by master nurseryman Gary Zill for its ultra-smooth, low-resin finish and lush fruiting habit.
Whether you’re creating a tropical food-forest, refreshing your landscape, or curating a container collection, this plant delivers beauty 🌸 and harvest 🍒 season after season.
🌞 Quick Facts Guide
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Shipping Size Options | 1-gallon pot (approx. 0.8 gal soil) · 3-gallon size also available for shipping (larger sizes local pickup only) |
| Estimated Age at Shipping | 1-gallon ≈ 12-18 months; 3-gallon ≈ 2-3 years (grafted stock) |
| Mature Height | 12-25 ft unpruned · Maintainable at 8-12 ft with shaping |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | Zones 8b–11 |
| Sunlight Requirements | Full sun (6–8 hours) strongly preferred; tolerates partial shade |
| Wind / Salt Tolerance | Performs well in coastal zones when wind-protected; moderate salt tolerance |
| Cold/Frost Tolerance | Young plants sensitive; established trees tolerate light frost >28°F |
| Growth Habit | Dense evergreen shrub/small tree; glossy leaves, ornamental & edible |
| Spacing Requirements | 10–15 ft between trees (hedge spacing 6–10 ft) |
| Seasonal Habits (Florida) | Evergreen in zones 9–11; in marginal zone 8b may bronze leaves in cooler months |
| Container Friendly? | Yes — ideal for patios in 15–25 gal in cooler zones |
🍒 Flavor & Fruit Profile
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Skin Colour at Peak | Deep purple-black glossy fruit |
| Flesh / Texture | Thin skin; juicy and aromatic |
| Taste Notes | Sweet-tart tropical blend with subtle spice/clove finish; less resin than red types |
| Typical Yield | In favourable conditions many lbs per tree; dark-fruited types yield better flavour and less resin |
| Harvest Cue | Fruit detaches easily when fully ripe; if hard and green/orange → resinous finish |
🌍 Origin Story & Cultivar Background
Native to the Atlantic coast of South America, Eugenia uniflora (Surinam Cherry, Pitanga) was brought into horticulture for its robust hedge qualities and edible fruit. On the path of cultivar improvement, growers selected dark-fruited clones because they were “sweeter and contain little to no resin.” (CTAHR study)
‘Zill’s Black’ is a premium selection developed by Gary Zill, aimed at upgrading flavour, reducing resin, and offering a high-end edible tree for subtropical and tropical landscapes.
🌿 Why We Love Growing It
- 🍒 Superior flavour upgrade: Sweet, juicy, low resin—elevates the edible garden experience.
- 🌳 Dual-purpose plant: Works as an edible tree and an ornamental screen/hedge.
- 🌸 Evergreen interest: Glossy leaves, ribbed dark fruit, structural form—year-round appeal.
- 💧 Tropical suited: Thrives in Florida’s heat, Gulf Coast, and container-friendly in cooler zones.
- 🌱 Versatile in design: Use as specimen tree, food-forest edge, container, or hedge line—perfect for your edible-landscape brand.
📊 Seasonal Care Calendar (Florida / Gulf Coast)
| Season | Growth Stage | Key Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Flush of new growth & flowering | Feed lightly with organic nutrients, ensure steady moisture, prune minimal after bloom. |
| Late Spring → Early Summer | Main harvest window | Pick fully ripe dark fruit; keep mulch refreshed; monitor bird/fruit-fly pressure. |
| Summer (zones 9–11) | Secondary flush or extended cropping | Deep soak irrigation; container plants may require daily check; maintain healthy foliage. |
| Fall | Cooling transition, slower growth | Light pruning, compost top-dress, tidy base. |
| Winter (zone 8b-9a) | Evergreen rest period, possible leaf bronze | Protect young plants on freeze nights, maintain mulch, reduce feeding. |
🌱 Planting & Care — GreenDreams “High & Tight” Method
When planting Surinam Cherry ‘Zill’s Black’ (Eugenia uniflora) in your landscape:
- Where to plant: Full sun location with well-draining soil. Avoid heavy clay or standing water.
- Dig hole: Slightly wider than container, same depth as root ball.
- Set plant “High & Tight”: Place crown just above soil grade. Avoid burying trunk.
- Backfill: Use native soil plus compost; pack firmly to remove air pockets.
- Top-dress: Apply a layer of biochar + compost + azomite + organic nutrients around the base.
- Mulch: 2–3″ hardwood mulch. Keep mulch 4–6″ away from trunk to prevent rotting.
- Watering: Use drip irrigation. In-ground: deep soak 1–2× per week first year. Containers: daily/alternate days depending on heat.
- Fertilizing: Use a balanced organic fertilizer quarterly for first 1–2 years; switch to fruit-tree formula later.
- Pruning: After first harvest year, remove dead/crossing branches. Maintain desired shape. Avoid heavy shearing before bloom.
- Winter care (Florida): In zone 8b, protect plants when temps drop below 28-30°F. Water well before forecasted freeze.
▶️ Watch our planting video at: https://youtu.be/RRQFY30qdA8?si=rRIcsbLlVAVYotfI
🌾 Companion Plants & Organic Guilds
- Nitrogen/biomass boosters: Pigeon Pea, Mexican Sunflower
- Pollinator magnets: Firebush, Blue Porterweed, Goldenrod
- Ground covers: Perennial Peanut, Sissoo Spinach
- Visual support: Bananas, Pineapple, Shade-tolerant herbs
These compliment your edible landscape, encourage biodiversity, and increase resilience.
🔍 Troubleshooting Guide
| Issue | Cause | Organic Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Bitter & resinous taste | Harvested too early (not dark-ripe) | Wait until fruit is deep black and detaches easily. |
| Flowers but no fruit | Shade, too frequent pruning, low night-temps | Ensure full sun, delay hedge shearing until post-harvest, increase night temps or protect. (Forum growers note a second tree improves set) (tropicalfruitforum.com) |
| Leaf bronze in winter | Frost or cold stress | Cover young plants, water pre-freeze, mulch heavily. |
| Bird or fruit-fly damage | Exposed ripe fruit, tropical pest pressure | Use netting or trap fruit flies organically. |
| Container root stress | Pot too small or dryness | Up-pot to 15-25 gal, mulch surface, maintain consistent moisture. |
🍴 Culinary & Cultural Use
This plant doesn’t just look good—it tastes great. In South America the fruit (known as pitanga) is used for fresh eating, juices, jams, jellies, syrups and even liqueurs. Dark-fruited clones like ‘Zill’s Black’ offer improved flavour and less resinous back-note. Nutrition-wise it delivers vitamin C, polyphenols and aromatic compounds which give its distinctive tropical spice finish. Use the fruit fresh, freeze for smoothies, or make syrup to drizzle over yogurt or ice cream 🍨.
🌳 Ornamental, Production & Container Use
- Ornamental use: Works as a polished hedge/screen or small specimen tree with glossy green foliage and dark-ribbed fruit adding visual contrast.
- Large-scale production: In commercial or food-forest settings, plant rows 10–15 ft apart; irrigate consistently; manage canopy for picking height; harvest season late spring–early summer for major crops. (gms.ctahr.hawaii.edu)
- Container / Indoor Use: Yes—grow in 15–25 gal pot. In cooler zones (<9) keep outdoors in summer, move into bright light/greenhouse when temps drop below 40 °F. Use high quality potting mix, keep evenly moist, feed monthly. Indoors only as a patio specimen; fruiting may drop if light is low.
✅ Is This Plant For Me?
Ideal for:
- Florida, Gulf Coast and zone 8b–11 gardeners looking to grow specialty tropical fruit
- Edible-landscape designers building food-forest edges, hedges or container collections
- Container gardeners wanting a small fruit tree with big flavor
Not ideal for:
- Gardens in hard-freeze zones (<20 °F) unless fully protected
- Full-shade properties where tree will not get sufficient sun
- Landscapes where “plant-and-forget” mentality rules (while this tree is hardy once established, best results come with care)
📦 Shipping & Local Pickup
- Shipping: We ship live 1-gallon & 3-gallon plants via UPS Ground from Florida each Monday. Ideal for Florida, Southeast & Texas markets. Nationwide available, but buyer discretion advised during peak heat or cold seasons.
- Local Pickup:GreenDreams Nursery & Farm18709 US Hwy 41, Spring Hill, FL 34610Tues–Fri 9 AM–5 PM | Sat 8 AM–3 PM
- Disclaimer: We are not responsible for plant condition once in transit. Some recovery time may be required after delivery.
- Sizes: Shipping sizes = 1-gal & 3-gal. Larger sizes (e.g., 5-gal, 15-gal) are available for retail pickup only.
🌿 Beyond the Plant: GreenDreams Services
At GreenDreams we do more than grow plants — we design, build & restore ecosystems across Florida.
- 🌳 On-site consultations & edible landscape design
- 🏗 Installation & project management
- 🚚 Bulk delivery of compost, mulch, biochar & soil materials
- 🌾 Wholesale & large-scale regenerative solutions
Let our team help you create your own thriving edible paradise — starting with ‘Zill’s Black’ Surinam Cherry.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION BEFORE PURCHASING LIVE PLANTS:
*Please be advised that our online store selections are NOT available for pickup at our retail location in Spring Hill, Florida.
Inventory for our online store is located at a separate facility and are priced and handled exclusively for packaging & shipping.
Click here to learn more about our Spring Hill, FL retail nursery location, including countless more nursery selections ready for pickup - larger sizes and wider variety of plants not suitable for nationwide delivery.
1. Shipping Stress: Transportation can be stressful for plants, particularly when they spend several days in a confined, dark environment. It’s common for plants to experience leaf drop during this period. Rest assured, most plants typically recover quickly and thrive with minimal aftercare. However, some may need extra attention, love, and care, requiring appropriate watering and exposure to gentle light post-unboxing.
2. Potential Physical Damage: Despite our dedicated efforts to ensure that your plants are securely packaged, they may incur damage during shipping and handling by UPS. Rest assured, our shipping team is committed to packing your selections with utmost care and precision to minimize any potential harm.
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For significant box damage, please reach out to UPS within 30 days to initiate a claim.
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For minor damages, such as a broken branch or stem, we advise allowing the plant time to recover and regenerate with proper care and attention.
3. Long-Distance Shipping Considerations: Orders shipped over long distances, particularly to the western US, may take 3 - 5 business days to arrive due to various factors, including agricultural inspections in Arizona, California, and Texas. Such extended transit times can be particularly challenging for tender, young plants, affecting their quality due to prolonged confinement.
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We take additional measures during packaging to facilitate a swift recovery of the plants upon unboxing.
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Initial extra care and attention might be required over the first few weeks post-transport.
For further guidance, kindly review our detailed policies on returns and refunds, as well as our comprehensive plant care guide. We appreciate your understanding and patience in nurturing your new plants.
🌿 Important Shipping Information
Please take a moment to review our shipping protocols designed to ensure your plants arrive in optimal condition.
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Countdown Clock: At the top of our online store, you'll notice a countdown clock. This tool helps communicate our weekly shipping schedule, providing clarity on when you can expect your orders to be dispatched.
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Shipping Schedule: Our nursery, located in the heart of Central Florida, ships orders once weekly, every Monday. This is a strategic decision to prevent packages from being stationary over the weekends, ensuring that our plants travel as swiftly as possible across the country, even reaching as far as California.
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Shipping Method: At present, we offer ground shipping rates to meet various needs while maintaining the well-being of our plants during transit.
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Our Dedicated Team: We are a boutique nursery with a passionate team. Our members wear many hats, contributing to shipping, nursery operations, and engaging in valuable local projects. As we blossom and expand, rest assured that enhancing and streamlining our processes remains a priority to serve you better
Terms and Conditions for Purchasing Live Plants
1. Understanding of Shipping Stress
By purchasing live plants from our store, the customer acknowledges that transportation can be stressful for plants. It is common for plants to undergo leaf drop or experience other temporary issues during shipping. However, it is understood that most plants recover quickly with adequate care and attention post-shipping.
2. Awareness of Potential Physical Damage
Customers acknowledge that despite our best efforts in packaging, there may be occurrences of damage during shipping and handling. For substantial damages to the package, customers agree to contact UPS within 30 days to initiate a claim.
3. Acknowledgement of Long-Distance Shipping Considerations
Customers recognize that shipments, especially those directed to the western US, may be subjected to longer shipping durations of 3-5 business days. Customers agree to provide necessary care to the plants, recognizing that the quality of the plants may be affected due to prolonged shipping times.
4. Agreement with Shipping Information and Schedule
Customers, by making a purchase, have reviewed and agreed upon our shipping protocols and schedules. They acknowledge the presence of a countdown clock on the website and our once-weekly shipping policy every Monday, recognizing the rationale behind avoiding weekend layovers for the plants.
5.Extreme Weather Conditions
Customers acknowledge that our store is not responsible for damage or loss of live plants due to extreme weather conditions during transit and delivery. This includes exposure to cold or freezing temperatures during the winter months and extreme heat during the summer. We provide tracking information when orders are processed every Monday to ensure customers are aware of the delivery schedule. It is the customer's responsibility to prevent packages from being left outside in conditions that may cause damage. Our store does not accept responsibility for any adverse effects caused by weather conditions beyond our control.
6. No Refund Policy
Customers agree that refunds are only processed under exceptional circumstances. Our store will not be held responsible for poor plant choices relative to location suitability, extreme conditions during and/or post-shipment, and improper post-purchase plant care.
7. Responsibility of Care
Upon purchase, customers agree to assume full responsibility for the ongoing care of the plants. This includes, but is not limited to, appropriate watering, exposure to suitable light, and adherence to specific care instructions pertinent to each plant type.
8. Consent
By proceeding with this purchase, customers consent to all the terms and conditions stated above, confirming understanding and agreement to all stipulations mentioned.
These terms and conditions aim to ensure clarity, mutual understanding, and agreement between the seller and the customer to facilitate a smooth transaction and foster a positive customer experience.
