Overview

Bring the tropics to your garden with the vibrant Acerola Barbados Cherry live plant. Scientifically known as Malpighia emarginata tree, this exceptional fruit tree is celebrated worldwide for its incredibly high vitamin C content, often surpassing that of oranges. Originating from the Caribbean, Central, and South America, the Barbados Cherry is a fast-growing, evergreen shrub or small tree that thrives in warm climates. It produces an abundance of small, bright red, cherry-like fruits that are not only delicious but also a nutritional powerhouse. Whether you’re looking to enjoy fresh, organic fruit straight from your yard or want to add a unique and productive plant to your landscape, the Acerola Barbados Cherry live plant is an excellent choice. It’s a fantastic specimen for edible landscaping and can be grown as a bush or trained into a small tree.

Key Benefits

The Acerola Barbados Cherry live plant offers numerous advantages for any gardener, from its nutritional output to its ease of care and aesthetic appeal. Cultivating this plant brings a wealth of benefits directly to your home and garden.

• Exceptional Nutritional Value: The primary benefit of the Barbados Cherry fruit is its astounding vitamin C content. These small fruits are among the richest natural sources of this essential vitamin, providing a significant boost to your immune system and overall health.
• Delicious & Versatile Fruit: Enjoy sweet-tart, juicy fruits that can be eaten fresh, made into juices, jams, jellies, or used in desserts. The fresh taste is a delightful addition to any culinary creation.
• Attractive Evergreen Foliage: The plant features glossy, dark green leaves that remain vibrant year-round, providing continuous visual interest and a lush backdrop in your garden.
• Beautiful Blooms: Throughout the warmer months, the Malpighia emarginata tree produces delicate pink to lavender flowers, adding an ornamental touch before the fruit appears.
• Fast Growing & Productive: Known for its rapid growth, this plant can start producing fruit within a year or two under optimal conditions, offering a quick return on your gardening efforts.
• Wildlife Attractor: The flowers attract pollinators like bees, and the fruits can be a treat for local birds, enhancing biodiversity in your garden.
• Adaptable & Resilient: Once established, the Acerola Barbados Cherry live plant is relatively drought-tolerant and can adapt to various soil types, making it a robust choice for many gardeners.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Acerola Barbados Cherry live plant is straightforward, making it suitable for both experienced gardeners and enthusiastic beginners looking to grow Acerola cherry. This plant thrives in warm, sunny conditions and requires consistent care to produce its best fruit. Ensure your plant gets plenty of sunlight; it prefers full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. In extremely hot climates, some afternoon shade can be beneficial to prevent leaf scorch. Plant your seedling in a location with good air circulation.

Watering is crucial, especially during dry spells and when the plant is fruiting. While the Malpighia emarginata tree is somewhat drought-tolerant once mature, consistent moisture promotes healthier growth and better fruit production. Water deeply when the top inch or two of soil feels dry, but avoid waterlogging. For soil, the Barbados Cherry is adaptable, but prefers well-draining soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. A mixture of clay, loam, peat, and sand provides an ideal balance for drainage and nutrient retention. Fertilize during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer to support vigorous growth and fruit development. Pruning can be done to maintain shape, encourage bushier growth, and improve fruit accessibility.

The Acerola plant care routine also includes protecting it from cold. This tropical plant is suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 9-11, where temperatures rarely drop below 20°F. If you live in a colder zone, consider growing it in a container that can be moved indoors during winter months to protect it from frost. Keep an eye out for common pests like aphids or scale insects, and treat them with organic pest control methods if necessary. With proper care, your Acerola Barbados Cherry live plant will provide years of delicious, healthy fruit.

Size & Details

This offering is for a healthy Acerola Barbados Cherry live plant, which arrives as a seedling, typically measuring 3 to 4 inches in height. It is supplied as a single plant, ready for transplanting into your garden or a larger pot. The plant is in its early growth stage, allowing you to shape and nurture it from a young age. With an upright growth habit, it can mature into a significant shrub or small fruit tree, capable of reaching heights of 10-15 feet if left unpruned, though it can be kept smaller with regular trimming. The evergreen foliage provides year-round greenery, and the plant will begin producing its characteristic green fruits that ripen to a vibrant red during spring and summer, given adequate sunlight and warmth. Expect fruit production to begin within 1-2 years under ideal growing conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this Acerola Barbados Cherry live plant get? A: This plant is sold as a 3-4 inch seedling. Mature plants can reach 10-15 feet tall and wide if grown as a tree, but can be maintained as a smaller shrub with pruning.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Malpighia emarginata tree is primarily an outdoor plant, thriving in tropical and subtropical climates (USDA Zones 9-11). It can be grown indoors in colder regions if provided with sufficient light and warmth.
• Q: How much sunlight does the Acerola Barbados Cherry live plant need? A: It requires full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily, for optimal growth and fruit production. In very hot climates, some afternoon shade can be beneficial.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, Acerola plant care is relatively easy. It’s adaptable and resilient once established, requiring consistent watering and feeding during its growing season.
• Q: What condition will the Acerola Barbados Cherry live plant arrive in? A: Your plant will arrive as a healthy seedling in excellent condition, carefully packaged to ensure safe transit. It will be ready for immediate planting or potting upon arrival.
• Q: How long until it produces Barbados Cherry fruit? A: Under ideal growing conditions, a young seedling can begin to produce fruit within 1 to 2 years after planting.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: This plant is hardy in USDA Zones 9-11. If you are in a colder zone, it is recommended to grow the Malpighia emarginata tree in a container so it can be brought indoors during freezing temperatures.
• Q: What type of soil is best for growing Acerola cherry? A: It prefers well-draining soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (5.5-6.5). A mix of clay, loam, peat, and sand is suitable.
• Q: Is the Barbados Cherry fruit safe for pets? A: Yes, the fruit is generally considered safe for both children and pets to consume.
• Q: When is the best time to plant the Acerola Barbados Cherry live plant? A: In warm climates, it can be planted year-round. In areas with distinct seasons, spring or early summer is ideal to allow the plant to establish before colder weather.