EugeniaRhombea | Plant ID Circle

Eugenia rhombea
red stopper

Basic description: small multistemmed evergreen tree/large shrub with opposite simple leaves
Mature size: 15-20 feet, taller than wide
Typical natural location: hardwood hammocks
Typical landscape location: occasional use for buffers, hedges, solitary shrubs
Branch arrangement, structure, other features: opposite branching, typically multi-stemmed, branches very thin
Bark texture, color, other features: bark smooth and gray/light brown

Leaf structure, shape, color, size, persistence, other features: leaves evergreen, averaging 1 to 2 inches long by 1 inch wide, simple, ovate with rounded acuminate tip forming a tear-drop shape, margins entire, new growth red
Flower color, size, form, arrangement, blooming period, persistence, other features: white and semi-showy, small (<1-inch diameter), light fragrance, can bloom year-round, with peak blooms in spring and summer
Fruit type, size, color (early/ripe), form, persistence, time of year, other features: small (1/4") berry, round, green when emerging, turning red when mature
Root features: no prominent roots

Key features for identification: typical stopper form (small multi-stemmed tree with opposite leaves and thin branches) with teardrop shaped leaf

Similar species/often confused with:

White stopper (Eugenia axillaris)
Similar features: overall size, multi-stemmed growth form, opposite leaves with similar size and shape, flowers similar size, color, and location (axils)
Distinguished by: red stopper leaves typically have more of a pronounced tear-drop shape to the leaf compared to white stopper which has more of a uniform ovate shape

redberry stopper (Eugenia confusa)
Similar features: multi-stemmed growth form, opposite leaves with similar size and shape, flowers with similar size, color, and location (axils)
Distinguished by: redberry stopper leaves are spread at wider angles than red stopper, they grow at nearly 90-degree angles from the stem. Redberry stopper can also more easily grow to be a full-size tree, reaching heights of up to 40 feet.