Name of Grower:

Nate Blackmore

Zone/Climate/Location:

9b, Coastal Influence Mediterranean Climate, Santa Cruz, California

Genus:

Eugenia

species:

florida

Common Name:

Guamirim

Variety or Seedling Provenance:

Miguel PT

Cold Hardiness & Winter Damage:

Fairly cold hardy, doesn't appear to die back in mid-low thirty *F temps. Probably can get down to low thirties without die back.

Sun Exposure:

Full Sun

Growth Rate:

Moderate growth rate

Size of Plant:

3.5' x 3.5'

Time to Maturity (Time to Flowering and Fruiting):

~4 years

Size at Maturity:

3' x 3'

Fruit Size:

Small fruits, mostly seed with a little flesh around it. Slightly fibrous flesh

Fruit Production (Quality, Quantity, etc.):

The fruit is delicious and has floral notes, although there is very little to eat. The fruit forms on panicles and ripens over a long period of time. More info TBD

Notes on Fruit Harvest, Handling, Storage, Market Potential:

Fruits are consumed on site, although they may be able to hang around for a couple of days before going bad. Not likely something that is marketable beyond it being an incredible ornamental in the landscape with the added bonus of an enjoyable novelty fruit.

Flowering/Fruiting Period (List specific months if possible):

Early July-November 2022, 5 months from flower to fruit.

Cultural Practice:

In the Ground

Notes:

A really incredible ornamental with huge bright pink/red leaves when flushing new growth. This usually happens a couple times a year and really certainly makes it worth it to have in the garden. The fruit isn't particularly big and I really wonder how viable it is to even sell the fruit. There really isn't much to juice and it would be nearly impossible to extract the flesh. A nice tree in the landscape but not likely something that will ever be commercialized for fruit production.