Cherry of the Rio Grande "Garnet" In Bud - Photos

[Kevin Jones]

Cherry of the Rio Grande "Garnet.
I've grown a lot of COTRGs... and this one is very unique
Beautiful red coloration on the bud growth:

















Kevin

[Yook]

The red growth is quite nice there.

What's your favorite Eugenia that you grow? I've got a CORG of an unknown type that is about to open flowers as well. I haven't tried the fruit before, but I really like the look of the bush. I've heard Surinam is a little more prolific but many aren't fond of the taste, except for specific varieties. I'd be open to adding more to my yard but I'd enjoy tasting some first.

[Kevin Jones]

I agree... it would be nice to taste a fruit before you buy a tree and put years into it... only to find out it is of mediocre quality.
At least you have the advantage (over me) of living in an area with a lot of Eugenia representation.
As well as other fruits being grown locally.
There are quite a few forum members in the Orlando and central Florida area who might be willing to share some fruit for tasting.
Put out a few feelers!
This Garnet COTRG is my current favorite... followed by my Crimson Tide Suriname Cherry.
Both were chance discoveries grown from seed.
I went through a lot of plants before settling on these.
The Garnet has a really nice Plum/Apricot flavor... while the Crimson Tide reminds me of a ripe Satsuma... without that turpentine aftertaste people complain about so often.

Here's what the fruits look like... sorry you can't taste them... really delicious!





Kevin

[NateTheGreat]

Beautiful! Is Garnet a seedling of a Nelita seedling?

[K-Rimes]

Would love to buy or trade some scions for that one! Kevin to Kevin transfer needed.

[Yook]

I'll definitely reach out a bit to try some fruit once people are back to interfacing with strangers again!

Something I value heavily in fruit trees is an extended ripening period. Would any of these Eugenia fall into that category? I imagine things may flower differently in AL as well.

[Kevin Jones]

Garnet is not a descendant of Nelita... At least not by any crossing I did.
It popped up about the same time as I was growing my first Nelita seedlings. No relation I believe.
I can only speculate that it is a Mutant/Hybrid/Cross of a standard Cherry of the Rio Granda and or Eugenia Calycina... but that's strictly a guess.
Adam Shafran... who is a well known authority on all things Eugenia... told me he thinks it's a Calycina... based on the photos I sent him last year.
A few years ago... I was raising a batch of COTRG seedlings and I noticed it... it stood out as different because of the very red growth tips and buds.
All of the other COTRGs had light green tips and buds.
It grafts fairly easily onto COTRG... So I plan to start doing more grafting this spring... and I will make plants available here on the forum to those interested.

Kevin

[Miguel.pt]

I am not sure if you are aware of the "Scarlet" variety of Eugenia involucrata that has red new growth leaves and red bark on the trunk.
What you probably have there is one of these Scarlets or at least one Eugenia involucrata seedling with some Scarlet genes.
You can also confirm the Scarlet genes on the fruit flesh.
On the Scarlet variety the fruit flesh is also red/scarlet colored.
You can see photos of this variety on my facebook page.
Good luck mate!

[Kevin Jones]

That's good to know Miguel... here's a few photos of the Garnet fruit...
As you can see... it has a golden colored flesh:







Thanks for your help Miguel!

Kevin

[Jabba The Hutt]

That's good to know... here's a few photos of the fruit...
As you can see... it has a golden colored flesh:







Thanks for your help!

Kevin

Excited to get some of these Eugenia variants... speaking of which, do you have the Orange CORG Kevin?

[nullzero]

Kevin,

Looks great I be interested in a grafted plant of garnet when avilable.

[Kevin Jones]

I've seen pictures of the orange ones... but do not own one.

Kevin

[Kevin Jones]

By contrast... Here's a Nelita fruit with red flesh:



Kevin

[socalbalcony]

Beautiful pictures as always Kevin, I've managed to make some more room on my balcony - looking fwd to the aforementioned possible grafted plant sale later

[K-Rimes]

Reminds me of my “orange Eugenia” which I believe more and more is a orange flesh CORG or Calcyina.

[carolstropicals]

Kevin, I am slightly unfamiliar with this site, but would love to be notified when you are selling
the Garnet Cherry of the Rio Grande.  We have just had a hard freeze here in Houston & have
lost many fruit trees. 
I will be having the old Cherry dug up since I am thinking it froze. 
Please let me know how to purchase one of your seedlings.  Thank you, Carol

[Kevin Jones]

I'll be off work all next week... I better start grafting!
I have numerous Garnet seedlings from the Mother plant that I will be grafting onto.
I planted all of last years seeds and now they are a good size for grafting.
I will also try grafting onto Nelita seedlings... sort of a 2-for-1 plant.

Kevin

[Kevin Jones]

The earlier photos were in the subdued lighting of my greenhouse.
Here's the same Mother tree grown in full sun a couple of years ago.
The full sun dramatically increases the red coloration:














Kevin

[NateTheGreat]

Beautiful! The red stems and peduncles in that last picture especially. Is that the same plant? The other pictures don't show that feature. Thanks for the info on the parentage.

[Kevin Jones]

These photos are all of the same plant... different days... different lighting and exposures.
I've had this plant in my greenhouse for the last 2 years to protect the fruit from critters... and to protect the plant itself from freezing temps. (I end up doing a lot of hand pollinating)... and the coloration is more subdued inside.

Kevin