Description
Eugenia calycina at the Brasília Botanical Garden, Brasília, Brazil
Eugenia calycina grows up to 2 meters (6.6 feet) in height, although is normally between 0.7 and 1.5 meters (2.3 and 4.9 feet). The narrow, coriaceous leaves are evergreen and elliptic in shape. The flowers are pinkish-white with four round petals. They arise to new settlements on the side or edge among the stalks and measure 1.5–5.8 centimeters (0.59–2.28 inches) in length. The oblong fruit is dark red to purple when ripe and measures 2.5 centimeters (0.98 inches) in length and 1.5 centimeters (0.59 inches) in width. There are at least two pointed, cordate-based, ovate bracts measuring 0.9–2.2 centimeters (0.35–0.87 inches) in length at the base of each fruit. It is edible and said to have a mild, sweet, berry-like flavor. It contains a single recalcitrant seed which germinates after 30–45 days of being planted. Seedling growth is rapid, with the plant often reaching 20 centimeters (7.9 inches) at 10 months of age. It fruits from November to January and flowers in spring. Fruiting begins when the plant is 2–3 years of age. The plant prefers positions in full sun or partial shade and tolerates semi-arid, rainy temperate, and subtropical to tropical dry and wet climates. They tolerate frost down to −4 °C (25 °F) and tolerate heat to 42 °C (108 °F). It tolerates sandy-loam soils and sand soils with quartz. The pH level of the soil may range from 4.5 to 6.7, with some moisture.[3][4]
