Light. Grows best in full sun and also takes part shade.
Water. Water regularly while it settles in. Once established it has moderate drought tolerance.
Soil and feeding. It grows in sand, clay or loam, acid or alkaline, but does best in fast-draining soil. Salt tolerance is poor, so keep it away from salt spray.
Size. Usually kept at 6–10 ft as a hedge. Untrimmed, it can reach 8–20 ft tall and 6–15 ft wide.
Pruning. The small, thin leaves shear easily. Keep the top slightly narrower than the base so the hedge stays dense to the ground.
Problems to watch. Scale and caterpillars are the main pests; treat scale with Insecticidal Soap. No diseases are of major concern.
Good to know. The 1-inch red berries are edible, high in vitamin C, and attract birds.
Sources: UF/IFAS EDIS FPS-202: Eugenia uniflora, Surinam Cherry
