A highly ornamental shrub with spreading branches and aromatic foliage. The young bronze foliage turns a glossy deep green when mature and deep red in cold, dry weather. The brazilian cherry has delicate white flowers that are followed within 3 weeks by a ribbed fruit that changes from green to orange to maroon when fully ripe. The fruit is delicious eaten out-of-hand or as an ingredient in jelly, sauce and pies. Refrigeration enhances the flavour and makes these a good substitute for strawberries.
Weed warning: This tasty and very hardy pumpkin shaped berry is popular as a kids treat. While in a urban situation it holds little risk however the fruit is very appealing to birds and when planted in regional areas it has been observed to seed into native vegetation remnants, where it can continue to self seed and inhibit the growth of native flora. It has the potential to grow in open sun and shaded areas. If in close proximity to subtropical rainforest remnants the tree should be netted during fruiting to avoid introduction into the native vegetation.
| Height | Frost tol. | Pollination req'd | Evergreen/Deciduous | Harvest period |
| 8 | Medium | No | Evergreen | February - May |
We welcome your Tips on Brazilian Cherry. Share Your Tip.
Take Control of Your Health and Escape the Sickness Industry '05 : This book says that this tree has very high Vitamin C ! The author has been informed several times that this fruit has normal amounts of Vit.C but they have not corrected the mistake ! | Rolf - Bankstown, NSW 25-Sep-2006
The fruit book called: Discovering Fruit & Nuts by Susanna Lyle.Printed 2006 is one of the best I have seen. Says the Brazilian Cherry has very good levels of vitamins C (45mg /100mg of flesh) and vitamin A (~2600IU0).They also contain thiamine,riboflavin | Les Garrett - Ulverstone, TAS. 04-Aug-2007
Does anyone have a receipe for a jelly using this fruit | My Buick - brisbane, QLD 07-Nov-2007
Not very tolerant of frost, at least when young, so advisable to cover at night when frosts are forecast. | Edward Henner - Carlingford, NSW 03-Aug-2008
To Alexandra Bennett:- I live in Townsville and in my front yard I have growing what is, so I've been recently told, a Brazillian cherry tree (fruiting at the moment). Approx 14yrs old I believe and very healthy. | Vicki - Townsville, QLD 02-Oct-2008
I have two Brazilian Cherry plants thriving in Mackay...and is very boutiful this year. | Kelly Kidner - Mackay, QLD 07-Oct-2008
Got My first taste straight of a tree growing in rockhampton, absolutly love the fruit | Kevan Beckett - Rockhampton, QLD 26-Oct-2008
This is not a tip but several questions. Do you need two of them for pollination? Otherwise, how do you pollinate? How long do you have to wait for fruit? | Michael Paris - Maida Vale, W.A. 04-Nov-2008
Michael you only need one tree and there is no need to pollinate. I have one in the backyard and it is a prolific fruiter. It is likely to fruit quite young. | Correy - Brisbane, QLD 05-Nov-2008
Our five year old Brazilian cherry has only produced one fruit so far, earlier this year, even though the bush is very healthy. Perhaps we are too far south? | Paola - Berry , NSW 20-Nov-2008
I added water and roughly the same quantity of fruit to sugar. cook until it reduces and thickens fairly well. when ready ( saucer test) let the jam cool and blend every thing skin and small seeds ( they soften during the cooking process. bottle | Carol Helliwell - Wauchope, NSW 11-Apr-2009
We have one of these growing in the back yard, very very tasty plump juicey fruit when it is nice dark blood red, shame i didnt notice it fruiting earlier. | David Corbett - Brisbane, QLD 28-Apr-2009
I have a friend who lives next to my house, and she has a brazillian cherry tree hanging over my yard. she told me i can take any that grow on my side. But i want to grow my own So how long does it take normally to fruit. | Alex Kavanagh - Brisbane, QLD 28-Apr-2009
Updated: 3rd of July, 2008 at 12:02pm © Disclaimer/Privacy/Copyright