N. Florida Cherry Trees

[D Palm]

I have been to local retailers over the years, and they only carry the Barbados cherry tree. I did not think these could survive low 20’s. The retailer is close to my house.

The sales associate reassured me they would grow in-ground here…there is a 1 year warranty so I purchased and am keeping receipt on hand.

Is there any variety’s that will produce in N. Florida? What are the odds of this tree producing (not just surviving) long term?

I am about 50 miles inland with annual ultimate low dips into 20-26F guaranteed every year.

[Xenon]

The Barbados cherry commonly sold is zone 10 or high 9b at best, it WILL freeeeeeze. 

There are no temperate cherries with low enough chill hour requirements for Houston so I'm guessing it's a similar story for North Florida. 

There are some 9a hardy myrtle "cherries" like cherry of the Rio Grande (Eugenia involucrada) and Surinam cherry (Eugenia uniflora) but none of them really taste like cherries (but neither does Barbados "cherry"). 

[amh]

Capulin cherry or Prunus salicifolia will work, but It may be hard to locate cultivars.

[bubba]

I find it hard to believe that the Barbados cherry would grow in north Florida. Stranger things have happened. Ironically, landscapers in South Florida do everything they can to make the Barbados cherry disappear. When you grew up eating these, you find yourself looking around for them. The taste may be acquired But they are outstanding and provide the highest amount of vitamin C for any fruit of similar size. Good luck!

[D Palm]

The tree was loaded with blooms at the retailer…so I will at least enjoy it for a year. I can prune it back and protect with a heating cable/blanket. Seems they get more hardy with age/growth. 
 

The associate said they grow them near Thomasville, GA for retail.  Hoping for a mild winter!

[bubba]

Please keep us posted! If it is a true Barbados cherry, you will greatly enjoy the fruit!

[amh]

20 hours ago, D Palm said:

The tree was loaded with blooms at the retailer…so I will at least enjoy it for a year. I can prune it back and protect with a heating cable/blanket. Seems they get more hardy with age/growth. 
 

The associate said they grow them near Thomasville, GA for retail.  Hoping for a mild winter!

Barbados cherry is a prolific producer, but you will have to fight the birds and bugs for fruit.

[D Palm]

[rprimbs]

Don't the low chill Ziegler cherries like "Minnie Royal", and "Royal Lee", fruit there.  I can get them to fruit here in Southern California, and it rarely gets much below 40F here.  So I basically a 10a or slightly better.

There are other cherries like "Laupins", and "Stella" that don't require much chill 

[Alan_Tampa]

I'm sorry, without extraordinary efforts in your climate,  you will have an acerola flavored stick.

Eugenia flavor is frequently exaggerated. Grumichama is the only one I have ever had that didn't have such a resinous aftertaste that didn't make it more or less unpalatable. My mom does like uniflora, so maybe it is me. 

[D Palm]

@Alan_Tampa Came with a 1 year warranty. 

[edbrown_III]

I grow em in Jax --- Eugenia ----    first few times I tried it the flavore and after taste was a bit intense ---- but more I eat the better they taste ---- I rekkon the taste buds  learn how to respond to the flavor 

 

[Alan_Tampa]

D palm, I'd rather your tree lived and thrived than the vendor having to honor the warranty.

 

That location looks rather exposed. Have proper frost cloth at the ready for when jack frost spreads his madness. 

[D Palm]

@edbrown_III What (if any) protection measure do you use in the winter? It is in the southern facing part of the yard…full blown sun minus a nearby pine that cast a 20 minute shadow.

I can always throw a packing blanket over it before Jack Frost shows up.

[edbrown_III]

I think they are good down to 20F--- this is an excaped one f rom a pott --- lotz of seedlings --- never protected it --- its a fruit tree so it needs sun -- mine is at the edge of my rainforest --- I think I saw 25F ----- but it got wacked in 2019 by the freeze --- been there about 12 yrs

 

[Xenon]

1 hour ago, edbrown_III said:

I think they are good down to 20F--- this is an excaped one f rom a pott --- lotz of seedlings --- never protected it --- its a fruit tree so it needs sun -- mine is at the edge of my rainforest --- I think I saw 25F ----- but it got wacked in 2019 by the freeze --- been there about 12 yrs

 

you're referring to the Eugenia and not Barbados cherry, correct? 

 

there is a cold hardy "Texas Barbados cherry" (Malphigia glabra) but the fruit is much smaller and "inferior", found in S. TX gardens sometimes mostly because it's "native" 

[bubba]

Barbados Cherries:

[Silas_Sancona]

16 hours ago, bubba said:

Barbados Cherries:

Those are actually Suriname Cherry, Eugenia uniflora.  Barbados Cherry look similar to traditional Cherries and have a smooth surface, not pleated / pumpkin shaped.

[bubba]

Thank you for the correction. Both Barbados Cherries and Surinam Cherries are commonly seen as border hedges throughout South Florida. I still eat both of them and their taste is indistinguishable.
 

This is a border hedge located at my oldest son‘s house and I took a picture of it while visiting my grandchildren. I appreciate your attention to detail.

[edbrown_III]

fruitin n ow --- some happy snaps 

[Silas_Sancona]

Neighborhood Barbados..  Approx 15ft in height.  Hard to see, but there is a Peach ..or Nectarine variety planted to the right of the Barbados Cherry.

[bubba]

These are far more cold hardy than I expected. Obviously, they can grow in Jacksonville. Near Phoenix, can you grow them as hedges?

[Xenon]

4 hours ago, bubba said:

These are far more cold hardy than I expected. Obviously, they can grow in Jacksonville. Near Phoenix, can you grow them as hedges?

Just to clarify, the Jacksonville pics are Surinam cherry (Eugenia uniflora). There is a big difference in hardiness. Surinam cherry is hardy in 9a as an occasional dieback perennial and recovers vigorously and sets fruit most years barring following a colder winter (low 20s-ish, maturity is also a factor). 

[PALM MOD]

Please keep the conversation about palms/plants and not about personal gardening practices or preferences.