Myrtaceae
How to identify a pitangatuba tree
Eugenia neonitida · also called star cherry
Bright yellow, oblong fruit with juicy, aromatic pulp likened to a mix of mango, pineapple, and passion fruit. Extremely perishable and almost never seen outside collector gardens.
Field marks
These features are typical of the genus Eugenia, so they help confirm you are looking at the right group; the fruit and the details below separate the species.
- Leaves are opposite and glossy, and smell aromatic when crushed, as in most of the myrtle family.
- Fruit is small and cherry-like; Suriname cherry's is distinctly ribbed.
Check a photo
Photograph one whole, mature leaf from above, or a flower or fruit, and the identifier will return ranked matches. If pitangatuba is the top result, the field marks above are your second opinion.
Leaves, flowers, fruit, or bark — closer and sharper identifies better. Your photo is identified and discarded, never stored.
Where and when you will find it
- Origin / cultivation history
- Brazil (Rio de Janeiro region)
- USDA zones
- 9b-11 (approximate — less documented than common Eugenia species)
- Climate
- Subtropical to tropical.
- Fruiting season
- Season not documented; check local sources
- How often grown
- Very rare in cultivation
A tree growing well outside the climate above is more likely to be a look-alike.
Growing it: seedling or grafted?
A young tree with no fruit is harder to identify and easy to mislabel, so it helps to know how long it takes to reach fruiting age and how it is usually propagated.
- Years to first fruit
- Not well documented in cultivation; likely several years from seed, similar to related Eugenia species
- Propagation
- Seed.
Relatives in the Myrtaceae family
Close relatives share many features, so these are the most likely mix-ups.
- JaboticabaPlinia cauliflora
- Suriname cherryEugenia uniflora
- GrumichamaEugenia brasiliensis
- GuavaPsidium guajava
- Strawberry guavaPsidium cattleyanum
- Camu camuMyrciaria dubia
- Wax appleSyzygium samarangense
- Malay appleSyzygium malaccense
Map your pitangatuba trees
CanopyTwin keeps every tree on a map with its species, cultivar, photos and history, and counts flowers and fruit from survey photos. It is built for orchards, nurseries and collectors of tropical and rare fruit.
More identification guides: free plant identifier · tropical fruit tree identifier · fruit tree identifier · all species guides