Pitanga fruit (photo from Wikipedia)
Fluffy white flowers of Pitanga (Eugenia uniflora)
Photo courtesy of Claudia G.
This native tree of Brazil which grows to about 4 metres has developed a reputation for becoming a bit of a weed in warm climates across the world. The small fluted cherry like fruits which turn red when ripe are attractive to birds which spread the seeds far and wide including native bushland. To stop this happening it is advisable to net the tree at fruiting time.
I am not a huge fan of the flavour of the fruit. I recall it has both a hot and sour taste. As an ornamental plant it has attractive red new leaves and was once recommended as a hedge plant by David Herbert writing in Brisbane in the middle of last century. It is now less grown commercially as our native species in that family have become hugely popular.
How nice that the pictures were helpful. Now the jabuticabas ended, they last only a week. In a few days the cherries ripen. The fig tree is now with the ripe fruit, we are in the spring and fruits are plentiful.
ReplyDeleteI love these fruit too, Brazil sounds like a bit of a Utopia for fruit bats like me! I managed to grow a couple of plants from seed but still very tiny so will be years before I get any fruit. Pam makes a delicious jelly with the fruit from her tree.
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