The plant commonly known as "Eugenia, Myrtilo evergreen or Australian mortela" has the botanical name of Eugenia myrtiflora, It is part of the Myrtaceae family, it has bushy growth and is quite branched, it is a bush of Australian origin used as a fruit tree to take advantage of the exquisite flavor of its fruit.
Eugenia or Eugenia myrtifolia
It is a highly branched shrub, distinguished by its leaves that present different colors throughout their life cycle. You can see its leaves with coppery red colors that later change to a very marked light green and then turns dark green. United this color with a shiny appearance of its leaves, with a well-defined midrib and having a small petiole. The shape of its leaves is lanceolate, elliptical and leathery.
It has white flowers and small size, with long and striking stamens. During the winter its fruits begin to grow, green when they are immature and as they mature they change to wine red or purple and have a pear-shaped shape, like small pears, at the end of the fruit, the rest of the calyx of the flower similar to as it happens in apples and pears.
This shrub can be adapted to live in countries with a temperate climate without very cold winters. When grown in its country of origin, Australia, this shrub bears fruit in the month of December, which is summer in that country with a temperate climate in the southern hemisphere. On the other hand, when it is grown in a country with a temperate climate in the northern hemisphere, its fruits are produced in the month of August, during the summer season. That is, on the hottest days in both countries.
Its fruit has a pulp with a rich sweet flavor, which makes it attractive to grow as a shrub or as a small fruit tree. It has a rich aroma and slightly acid flavor, it is widely used in the canning and jam industry to produce jams, sweets, preserves and juices. Little birds such as "blackbirds" like to nibble on its tasty pulp. Hence its specific name.
Caring for your crop
It is a shrub also used as an ornamental and to build hedges, this is due to the fact that it has a closed appearance due to its foliage, allowing it to be quite bushy. Sometimes they are planted interspersed with bush of similar growth and similar growth, quickly obtaining a spectacular and functional hedge of medium height.
Likewise, when planted in isolation, it develops into a very pretty shrub, with a pyramidal shape. It can be planted in houses with gardens or patios with little space. If it is planted where it obtains all the requirements for its good growth and development, it can reach about 7 meters in height. This bush is used by some people for topiary art, and pruned to give them original shapes.
Soil and light requirement
It is suggested to plant it in full sun or also in slightly shady places where it receives several hours of sunlight. the species Eugenia myrtiflora it can withstand winters with light frosts unlike plants of the same family Myrtaceae of the species eugenia uniflora. Also, the E. myrtifloraIt requires well-drained, moist soils with enough nutrients. Although it is resistant to different types of soil.
Irrigation
The watering of this Eugenia shrub should be infrequent, that is, water with copious amounts of water once a week. Unless it is the summer season and the temperature is very high, it can be watered twice a week. Especially when the plant is small but once it has taken root, it can be watered once a week.
soil cultivation
When the plant is transplanted to the ground, a hole larger than the root ball of the plant has to be opened, then when placing the plant with its root ball, you have to place enough fertilized and loose soil, mixed with a good substrate along with river soil. , which is placed at the bottom of the hole so that the root ball is not too deep and then, after planting the Eugenia, a little soil is placed on it and compacted well to settle the planted plant.
It is suggested that the hole where the plant is placed be large enough and conditioned with good soil, so that the roots of the plants grow well and can move in search of water and nutrients so that it develops well, always planting at a good height and do not allow the base to not be covered and the Eugenia bush suffocates, and that the roots curl up and in a few days the plant dies.
grown in a pot
If you are growing this Eugenia bush in a pot, the pot needs to be large enough, two to three times the size of its root ball. The planting substrate must be mixed with coarse river sand. The pot must have enough holes to drain the irrigation water, to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged.
potted irrigation
When they are grown in pots, it is suggested to mist their leaves or place a plate with stones or pebbles under the pot of the plant and place water, in this way it will provide ambient humidity and the base does not directly touch the water. This cultural practice will thank this Eugenia bush. Also, to provide nutrients to the Eugenia plant that you plant in a pot, you can apply the water where you cooked potatoes, that does not have seasonings, when it is already cold. This will provide potassium to the plant.
Also, when you open the hole, it will be done a few days before planting so that the soil is aerated and then plant the Eugenia bush. Also, the land that is applied to the plant when it is planted must come already fertilized with sulfur and potassium fertilizer to help it have good flowering. Remember that watering should be when small, twice a week, also, as it grows, water once a week with plenty of water. The soil must have good drainage.
Pests
This Eugenia bush is resistant to pests. However, its delicate shoots are attacked by aphids, such as the cottony mealybug. If planted in semi-shade, it can be attacked by whitefly.
your pruning
This bush is used to make hedges or vegetable walls, it is a plant that resists pruning. Strengthening its branches and leaves every time it is pruned. To make it more leafy, it must be pruned during the winter season, in the months of January and February, so that in the spring season the plants produce new and numerous leaves.
Propagation
Its fruit is a berry, with a seed. To propagate the plant with its seed it has to be extracted, for this it has to be separated from its pulp, it is placed in a container with water and with a soft cell brush separate the pulp from the seeds and, afterwards, it must be disinfected to avoid transmit any disease. Then place the seeds on an absorbent paper and let it dry a bit and then you can plant it.
You may also be interested in the following posts: