Rainforest Plum (Eugenia candolleana) – Very tasty!

Description

Why growers love it

Glossy purple-black berries with real dessert appeal: sweet, juicy, gently tangy, with a soft “plum/grape” vibe. Great fresh and excellent for jams, sorbets, and fruit bowls.

Botanical notes (kept simple)

• Genus: Eugenia — evergreen, opposite leaves, white axillary flowers (4 petals, many stamens), berry with a persistent calyx.

• Species: E. candolleana (Rainforest Plum), native to the Atlantic rainforest of Brazil. Fruits ~2–3 cm, turning deep purple-black when ripe.

• Pollination: Self-fertile; a single plant can set fruit.

Flavor & uses

Sweet first bite with mild acidity and a clean, aromatic finish. Eat out of hand, or turn into preserves and desserts.

Growing (easy, with one cold-weather caveat)

• Climate: Thrives tropical/subtropical. Brief dips near –2 °C can defoliate; around –3 °C damage is likely—cover or move containers under protection.

• Light: Full sun to bright part shade.

• Soil & water: Moist, well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral mix; steady moisture in warm months.

• Size & habit: Naturally a small tree/shrub (≈4–7 m in ground); stays compact and very prunable in large containers (≈1–2 m maintained).

• Bearing: Flowers and fruits young under good culture; multiple flushes possible in warm climates.

Seed handling & sowing

• Recalcitrant: Do not let seeds dry. Plant as soon as you receive them.

• How to sow: 5–10 mm deep in an airy, fine mix. Keep warm and evenly moist.

• Germination: Typically 4–8 weeks when fresh; seedlings start slow, then accelerate.