Eugenia candolleana

Rainforest plum (Eugenia candolleana)
Scientific name	Eugenia candolleana
Genus	Eugenia
Family	Myrtaceae
Order	Myrtales
Fruit type	Berry
Growth form	Small evergreen tree or shrub
Climate and hardiness	Warm subtropical to tropical
Mature height	About 4–7 m
Mature width	N/A
Soil	Moist soil in its Atlantic-forest range; pH and drainage limits are N/A
Water	Even moisture during establishment and fruit development
Sun	Full sun to partial shade; more sun generally improves fruiting
Germination	Fresh seed; do not dry
Years to fruit	N/A
Pollination	N/A
Harvest	Fruit up to about 3 cm; regional harvest calendar N/A

Description

Eugenia candolleana leaves, fruit, cut fruit, and seed, as identified on the Commons file page.

Rainforest plum is a semideciduous Brazilian Myrtaceae tree with an open crown, generally about 4 to 7 m tall. It is associated with Atlantic rainforest, especially nearer the coast, and bears dark fruits reported at up to about 3 cm in diameter.

The accepted genus, family, and order are Eugenia, Myrtaceae, and Myrtales. Common names may cover related taxa; check the scientific name before transferring cultivation advice.

Cultivation

Rainforest plum is a slow-growing tree of moist Atlantic-forest vegetation in eastern Brazil. The species account reports success in full sun and some shade, but gives little evidence for a universal container or cold-hardiness prescription. Maintain root-zone moisture and protect young plants from drying while avoiding stagnant media.

Soil and water

Native records emphasize moist soil; species-specific pH and drainage limits are not well documented. A humus-rich, aerated medium is a reasonable cultivation translation, but it should be treated as guidance rather than a measured native-soil requirement.

Sun and humidity

Full sun or some shade is reported. The Atlantic-forest association supports warm, humid-air cultivation with airflow around the foliage.

Seasonal changes

The species is described as semideciduous, but a dependable flowering or harvest calendar is not documented in the reviewed sources. Expect growth and fruiting to follow local rainfall and temperature, and record the timing of each selection rather than applying a fixed season.

Propagation

Seed should be sown fresh in partial shade. A Brazilian tree reference reports germination beginning in about 40 to 50 days with a rate only a little over 10%, followed by slow seedling growth. Species-specific evidence for grafting or cuttings is limited, so clonal claims should remain provisional.

Flowering, fruiting, and harvest

The available species account describes fruit up to about 3 cm across but does not establish a universal flowering or harvest season. Harvest timing and years to fruit are therefore N/A at species level in this article.

Fruit and uses

The fruit is eaten raw or made into marmalade. The available description characterizes the pulp as firm, thick, succulent, sweet, and pleasant; fruit diameter is reported up to about 3 cm.

Photos

References

• Useful Tropical Plants: Eugenia candolleana
• Purdue NewCROP: Eugenia and related fruits

Image credits

• Eugenia candolleana 5.png — Jorge Stolfi, CC BY-SA 3.0.
• Eugenia candolleana 2.png — Jorge Stolfi, CC BY-SA 3.0.
• Eugenia candolleana 3.png — Jorge Stolfi, CC BY-SA 3.0.
• Eugenia candolleana 6.png — Jorge Stolfi, CC BY-SA 3.0.