Surinam Cherry - Eugenia uniflora

While the Surinam Cherry (Eugenia Uniflora) is not related to common cherry trees, It gets its name because the fruit is shaped like a cherry and it does have a seed in the center.

This plant can be grown as a large shrub or a small tree. In Florida this plant has been used to create hedges. If left to grow on its own it can reach a mature height of about 25 feet.

You can find this plant growing in places such as Hawaii, India, the Philippines, Samoa, and parts of Florida. There are some places where this tropical plant could be considered invasive so please check with your local extension office to see if this plant is invasive in your area. 

The Surinam Cherry is also an evergreen plant with leaves that change to a red color in the fall. However if you live in areas that dip below 30 degrees in the winter, you might want to grow your plant in a pot so you can move it indoors or into a greenhouse for the winter season.

Expect fruit starting in years 3-5f, which comes in colors of green, yellow, red, and dark red can be used in creating jellies, jams, and sauces.