Star Cherry Plant – Eugenia selloi (Pitangatuba)

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Give your edible garden a golden highlight with Star Cherry, also known as Pitangatuba. Its unusual ribbed fruit and glossy foliage make it an eye-catching addition to a rare-fruit collection. The ripe flesh brings a bright tropical tang to drinks, preserves, and frozen desserts.

Explore available plants at The Island Gardeners, with Palm Bay pickup near Melbourne, Florida, and nationwide shipping to eligible destinations.

Why grow Star Cherry?

• Distinctive yellow fruit with deep, rounded ribs.
• A compact evergreen form suited to managed garden spaces.
• A flavorful option for gardeners who enjoy tart tropical fruit.
• Another harvest to track as your food forest develops.

Origin and other names

This Brazilian fruit plant is sold as Eugenia selloi, Pitangatuba, and Star Cherry. The name Eugenia neonitida also appears in horticultural references and nursery trade. It belongs to the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Use the botanical name when shopping to distinguish it from similarly named plants.

Fruit size, taste, and texture

The supplied photographs show green fruit developing into golden yellow-orange fruit with prominent rounded ribs. Nursery reports describe fruit around 1–2½ inches long, although size varies between plants and growing conditions. The flesh is soft and very juicy, with a lively sweet-tart flavor often compared with passion fruit. Allow fruit to become fully colored and soften before picking, and remove seeds before preparing the flesh. Use promptly after harvest.

Try the pulp in juice, sorbet, fruit sauces, or preserves, adjusting sweetness to taste.

Plant size and growth

Star Cherry typically develops as a bushy evergreen shrub or small tree. Compact forms are often reported around 4–6 feet tall and wide, while other nursery descriptions allow for larger growth. Pruning, climate, and plant selection affect the final size. Allow room for branching and maintain access for picking rather than relying on an exact height guarantee.

A large container can be useful for a patio garden or for moving the plant to winter protection. Check container moisture frequently and allow room for root growth.

Growing and care

Provide full sun to partial sun and well-drained soil with organic matter. Maintain regular moisture, especially during establishment and fruit development, without keeping the root zone waterlogged. Feed according to the product label and plant needs; ECHO's nursery guidance suggests balanced fertilizer two to three times annually.

Inspect for scale and caterpillars, and address poor drainage if root problems develop. Lightly prune for shape and airflow. In Palm Bay and Central Florida, choose a protected spot and protect young plants from frost. Use a movable container where winter conditions require indoor protection with adequate light.

Harvest season and My Food Forest

Florida planning guide: repeated flushes during warm growing conditions. A dependable month-by-month season is not established across Florida, so this listing does not assign a fixed statewide calendar window. ECHO reports fruit development in approximately 3–4 weeks after flowering; that is a flower-to-fruit estimate, not the time from planting to the first harvest.

Add Star Cherry to your Harvest Calendar and My Food Forest plan, then record local flowering and picking dates. Those observations will help you compare its actual season with other fruit plants. Scan the Harvest Calendar QR in the product image to explore the tool.

Plant at a glance

Frequently asked questions

Is Star Cherry the same as star fruit?
Star Cherry is an Eugenia with fleshy, rounded fruit ribs. Carambola is a separate plant, Averrhoa carambola.

Will it fruit in 3–4 weeks after I receive it?
That estimate refers to fruit development after flowering on a mature, productive plant. First fruiting depends on plant age, propagation, and growing conditions.

Is the flavor sweet?
Expect a noticeable tang balanced with tropical sweetness. Ripeness and growing conditions influence the flavor.

Can I grow it in a pot?
Yes, with adequate root space, light, water, and drainage. Container plants need ongoing care and protection when local winter conditions are unsuitable.

What size will arrive?
Choose from the current stock options. The selected variant should give actual nursery plant specifications; fruit photographs illustrate the species.

Do you ship nationwide?
Nationwide shipping is available to eligible destinations, subject to plant-entry restrictions, selected plant size, weather, and checkout availability. Palm Bay pickup is available near Melbourne, Florida.

Grow something distinctive

Choose your available Star Cherry (Eugenia selloi) plant at TheIslandGardeners.com and add a new flavor to your garden.