Sweet Tropical Fruit with Apple-Scented Leaves
Grow a piece of paradise in your backyard with Cedar Bay Cherry (Eugenia reinwardtiana)! This evergreen tree or shrub is native to rainforests of northern Queensland, Indonesia, and the Pacific Islands and delights with bright glossy leaves, beautiful white flowers, and delicious sweet, orange-red fruit. Cedar Bay Cherry is grown commercially on a small scale for its sweet fruit and as an ornamental shrub, making it an appealing tree or hedge for home gardens.
Cedar Bay Cherry grows 8–20 ft. high with a rounded crown. White flowers bloom from late spring to early summer, then develop into sweet, 1-inch cherries that taste like cherry with a hint of grape. The fruit can be eaten out of hand or used to flavor candies and drinks, as pie fillings, chutneys, preserves, or as toppings for yogurt, ice cream, or salads. Like other members of the Myrtle family (Myrtaceae), its shiny, elliptical leaves are covered with oil glands that release a distinctive apple scent when crushed, while new leaves emerge an attractive pink before maturing into bright green.
Cultural & Culinary Significance
Cedar Bay Cherry is a highly popular fruit in Australia, where it is enjoyed for its sweet, cherry-like flavor and versatility in the kitchen. The 1-inch fruits can be eaten fresh or transformed into candies, drinks, pie fillings, chutneys, preserves, and delicious toppings for yogurt, ice cream, and salads. Its combination of edible fruit, fragrant foliage, and ornamental beauty makes it a beloved choice for both food gardens and landscapes.
Why Grow Cedar Bay Cherry?
- Sweet orange-red fruit with a delicious cherry and grape-like flavor
- Beautiful white flowers followed by abundant edible fruit
- Glossy evergreen foliage with an unexpected apple scent
- Attractive pink new growth adds extra ornamental appeal
- Can be grown as a fruit tree, ornamental shrub, or hedge
Growing Tips
(Also known as: Cedar Bay Cherry, Cedar Bay, Beach Cherry)
Cedar Bay Cherry grows in full sun to partial shade in moist, well-draining soil. It is hardy in USDA Zones 9–11 and thrives in warm, humid conditions. Give it room to develop its rounded crown, or prune it to maintain a smaller size for use as a hedge or ornamental shrub.