Scientific name: Eugenia uniflora
Synonym: Eugenia brasiliana, Eugenia costata, Eugenia indica, Eugenia lacustris
Common Names: Pitanga, Pitangueira, Common Pitangueira, Brazilian Cherry,
Family: Myrtaceae
Category: Shrubs, Tropical Shrubs
Climate: Equatorial, Mediterranean
Origin: South America, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay
Height: 1.80 to 2.40 m
Luminosity: full sun
Life cycle: perennial
 
The pitangueira is a fruitful and ornamental tree or shrub, native to the Atlantic Forest and known mainly for the sweet and fragrant fruits that are part of the culture of Brazilians.
The name “pitanga” is of Tupi origin and means red-red, in an allusion to the color of the ripe fruits.
The size can be bushy, between 2 and 4 meters high, or arboreal, reaching in these cases between 6 and 12 meters. The crown is dense and rounded.
Flowering is erratic, and can occur two or more times a year, most of the time depending on the climate of the region where it is planted and the variety of the plant. The flowers are small, hermaphrodite, white, fragrant, with long stamens and very melliferous, attracting bees.
The leaves are opposite, simple, oval, acuminate, glabrous, reddish when young, and which gradually take on a green color.
The fruits are globular berries, depressed at the poles, with longitudinal grooves and when ripe they turn red, wine or even black, depending on the variety. The pulp is soft, juicy and red, covered by a very thin and delicate rind. Carries between 1 to 3 large seeds.
 
Pitanga is generally consumed raw. The flavor is sweet, acidic, pungent and with a very characteristic aroma. She is also very nutritious, being rich in vitamins and minerals. It is a fragile fruit with low durability, for this reason it is hardly found for sale in supermarkets. It is easier to find artisan pitanga products in regional markets, such as liqueurs, flavored cachaça, jams and wines. However, the industrial production of pulps, juices and popsicles made from pitanga is growing.
 
In addition to its qualities as a fruit tree, the pitangueira is decorative. The tortuous stem and intensely branched branches, with tiny leaves, attract attention, being much appreciated in residential gardens.
They are frequent in sustainable gardens that unite beauty and function, with ecological concerns. Italian-inspired gardens, which unite fruit trees with geometric shapes are also perfect for pitangueira trees.
In Brazil, reforestation projects often rely on this species, which in addition to being native, is still capable of attracting birds with its sweet fruits. 
 
The pitangueira is a rustic and low-maintenance plant. It is capable of withstanding drastic and frequent pruning. Because it is branched and tolerant of pruning, it is also used as a hedge. 
 
Fertilizations are necessary every six months and at the time of planting.
 
It should be grown in full sun, preferably in fertile and deep soil, enriched with organic matter and irrigated regularly for at least two years after planting and in semi-arid regions. 
It adapts to different types of soil, growing well in heavy soil and even on restingas and beaches. 
Does not tolerate salinity or prolonged drought. 
Cold-resistant, it is able to tolerate sub-zero temperatures.
 
It usually bears fruit in the 3rd year after planting. The spacing generally used is 4 meters between plants and between rows.