How to Grow Surinam Cherry
Eugenia uniflora
Surinam cherry (Pitanga) is a subtropical evergreen shrub with distinctive ribbed red fruit. Grow in full sun with well-drained soil. In the UK and northern Europe, grow in a large container and move under heated glass before the first frosts, keeping above 5°C in winter. Feed monthly in the growing season with a balanced fertiliser, water freely in summer, and prune lightly after each fruiting flush to encourage the next crop. Harvest when fruit turns deep red to almost black for the sweetest flavour.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Feed monthly from spring to early autumn with a balanced liquid fertiliser. Reduce or stop feeding in winter. Eugenia uniflora is not a heavy feeder but responds well to regular nutrition during the growing season.
Watch For
- Scale insects on stems and branches
- Mealybugs in leaf axils and on young stems
- Glasshouse red spider mite in warm, dry conditions under glass
- Anthracnose — dark sunken spots on fruit in humid conditions
- Root rot from overwatering or poor drainage
Care Requirements
Light
Full sun essential
Requires full sun for best fruiting. Tolerates light shade but produces fewer flowers and fruit. Under glass in the UK, place in the brightest position available.
Watering
Regular in summer, reduced in winter
Water freely during fruit development. Container plants need checking every two days in summer heat. Reduce watering in winter but never allow the rootball to dry out completely.
Fertilizing
Monthly balanced feed, spring to early autumn
Feed monthly with a balanced liquid fertiliser from spring through early autumn. Not a heavy feeder — excessive nitrogen promotes leafy growth at the expense of fruit.
Pruning
Light pruning after each fruiting flush
Prune after harvest to encourage new fruiting wood. Tolerates hard pruning for hedge training or rejuvenation. Avoid heavy pruning in late autumn or winter.
Overwintering
Frost-tender, keep above 5°C
Damaged by frost below -2°C. Container plants must overwinter under heated glass above 5°C. In-ground plants in very mild areas may survive with fleece protection during cold snaps.
Spacing & Planting
| Plant spacing | 400 cm |
| Row spacing | 500 cm |
| Mature height | 500 cm |
| Mature spread | 400 cm |
Small evergreen tree or large shrub with distinctive ribbed fruit. Can be grown as a hedge at closer spacing. Tolerates heavy pruning. Container plants stay 150-200cm; in-ground specimens reach 400-800cm in frost-free climates.
