Brazillian Cherry Grumichama

The Grumichama, or Brazilian Cherry, is a rare tropical fruit tree that produces glossy, deep-purple to black fruit resembling a true cherry in both appearance and flavor. Native to the coastal rainforests of Brazil, this slow-growing but highly ornamental tree offers sweet-tart, juicy fruit, glossy evergreen foliage, and a manageable size for home gardens and food forests.

It’s one of the best tropical cherry alternatives available — with beautiful form, excellent taste, and strong landscape value.

🌿 Tree Growth

• Small evergreen tree reaching 10–25 ft at full maturity

• Naturally dense and symmetrical — excellent for containers or small spaces

• Grows slowly but steadily; tolerates pruning and shaping

• Begins fruiting in 3–5 years from seed or earlier from grafted plants

• Grows best in full sun to partial shade with rich, well-drained soil

🍒 Fruit Description

• Small round fruit, ½–1 inch, deep purple-black when ripe

• Thin skin with bright red pulp and 1–2 small seeds

• Flavor is sweet, juicy, and slightly tart, like a mix of cherry and grape

• Can be eaten fresh, made into jam, wine, juice, or frozen treats

• Harvested over several weeks once ripening begins

❄️ Cold Tolerance

• USDA Zones 9b–11

• Can handle brief dips to 28–30°F when mature

• Great choice for South Florida and coastal California

• Can be grown in large pots and protected in borderline zones

📅 Harvest Season

• Fruits in late spring to early summer

• Often blooms multiple times per year in ideal conditions

• Fast ripening — fruit matures within 30 days of flowering

💼 Ideal For

• Rare fruit collectors and exotic fruit nurseries

• Urban gardens, edible hedges, and tropical-themed landscapes

• Small farms, farmer’s markets, and boutique edible plant resellers

• Homeowners wanting a beautiful, manageable fruit tree with strong curb appeal

🔒 Zill High Performance Notes

Our Grumichama trees are grown from high-quality, true-to-type seed or grafted stock, selected for dense branching and early fruiting. This is one of our favorite small-format tropical trees — stunning in the landscape, surprisingly productive, and loved by both kids and chefs.