Barbados Cherry Live Plant – 2-3 Ft Tall – 3 Gallon Pot – Acerola Cherry

Overview

Introduce a tropical delight to your garden with the Barbados Cherry live plant. Also known as Acerola Cherry (Malpighia emarginata), this remarkable plant is celebrated for its tart-sweet, vitamin-rich fruit. Our Barbados Cherry live plant arrives at your door standing 2 to 3 feet tall, pre-potted in a 3-gallon container, ensuring a healthy start for your new edible landscape addition. This fast-growing, bushy tree can be cultivated as a standard tree, shaped into an attractive hedge, or even grown in a large pot on a patio. Beyond its ornamental appeal, the acerola cherry tree is primarily valued for its prolific production of vibrant red cherries, which are renowned for their exceptionally high Vitamin C content – often cited as having more Vitamin C than oranges. It’s an excellent choice for home gardeners looking for both beauty and nutritional benefits.

Key Benefits

Adding a Barbados Cherry live plant to your home or garden offers a multitude of advantages, from its delicious fruit to its versatility and health benefits. Here are some of the key reasons to grow this fantastic plant:

• Exceptional Nutritional Value: The primary draw of the Barbados Cherry live plant is its fruit, which is one of the richest natural sources of Vitamin C. Just a single serving can provide a significant portion of your daily recommended intake, making it a fantastic boost for your immune system and overall health. The fruit is also packed with antioxidants.

• Delicious and Versatile Fruit: Enjoy the unique tart-sweet flavor of fresh acerola cherries directly from your plant. These versatile fruits are perfect for making juices, smoothies, jams, jellies, and desserts. They also freeze well without losing their powerful Vitamin C content.

• Fast Growing and Adaptable: The Barbados Cherry is a vigorous grower, quickly establishing itself and producing fruit. Its adaptable nature allows it to be trained as a small tree, a dense hedge, or even kept as a container plant in cooler climates, offering flexibility for various garden designs.

• Attractive Ornamental Plant: With its bright green foliage and small, delicate pink flowers that precede the fruit, the acerola cherry tree adds a lovely tropical aesthetic to any garden space. It’s a beautiful and productive plant that enhances curb appeal.

• Easy to Grow: This plant is relatively low-maintenance once established, making it suitable for both experienced gardeners and those new to growing fruit trees. With proper care, you can expect a bountiful harvest.

• Supports Local Wildlife: The flowers can attract pollinators like bees, and the fruit can be a food source for birds, contributing to local biodiversity.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

To ensure your Barbados Cherry live plant thrives and produces abundant fruit, follow these essential care guidelines. This plant generally prefers warmer climates and can be grown outdoors year-round in USDA Zones 9-11. In cooler regions, it makes an excellent container plant that can be brought indoors during winter.

Sunlight Requirements: The Barbados Cherry prefers full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. While it can tolerate partial shade, full sun exposure will result in a healthier plant and more prolific fruit production. If growing indoors, place it near a bright, south-facing window or supplement with grow lights.

Watering Schedule and Soil Moisture: Water your acerola cherry tree regularly, especially during dry periods and when the plant is actively fruiting. The soil should be kept consistently moist but not waterlogged. Allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Reduce watering during cooler months or when the plant is dormant. Good drainage is crucial to prevent root rot.

Soil Type and Drainage: This plant is adaptable to various soil types but prefers well-draining, fertile soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0-7.0). A good quality potting mix enriched with organic matter works well for container planting. For in-ground planting, amend heavy clay soils with compost and sand to improve drainage.

Temperature Range and USDA Hardiness Zone: The Barbados Cherry live plant is tropical to subtropical. It is hardy in USDA Zones 9-11, where it can withstand mild frosts. In zones below 9, it must be protected from freezing temperatures. Bring container plants indoors when temperatures drop below 40°F (4°C). It thrives in temperatures between 65°F and 85°F (18°C-29°C).

Fertilization Schedule: Fertilize your Barbados Cherry plant with a balanced slow-release fertilizer, or a fruit tree specific fertilizer, during the growing season (spring through summer). Follow the product instructions for application rates. Reduce or stop fertilization during fall and winter. Regular feeding will support vigorous growth and fruit development.

Pruning: Prune your vitamin c fruit plant to maintain its shape, control its size, and encourage better air circulation and fruit production. Prune after the main fruiting season. Remove any dead, diseased, or crossing branches. You can also prune to shape it as a standard tree or a hedge.

Size & Details

This Barbados Cherry live plant is carefully nurtured to reach a height of 2 to 3 feet tall at the time of shipment, providing you with a substantial, established plant ready for immediate growth. It is shipped in a robust 3-gallon nursery pot, complete with its existing soil and root system, minimizing transplant shock and ensuring a smooth transition to its new home. The Barbados Cherry is a fast-growing species, meaning you can expect it to quickly establish itself and begin producing fruit, often within 1-2 years of planting. Its bushy habit allows for flexibility in training, whether you desire a compact shrub, a small fruit tree, or even a fruiting hedge. The mature size can vary depending on growing conditions and pruning, typically reaching 6-10 feet tall and wide in ideal environments. This plant offers a substantial start to growing your own delicious and highly nutritious acerola cherry tree.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this Barbados Cherry live plant get? A: This Barbados Cherry live plant is 2-3 feet tall when shipped in its 3-gallon pot. With proper care, it can grow to a mature height of 6-10 feet tall and wide, depending on whether it’s pruned as a tree or a hedge.

• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Barbados Cherry thrives outdoors in USDA Zones 9-11. In cooler climates (Zones 8 and below), it should be grown in a container and brought indoors during the winter months to protect it from freezing temperatures.

• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: Your acerola cherry tree requires full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day, for optimal growth and fruit production. It can tolerate partial shade but will yield fewer fruits.

• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the Barbados Cherry is considered relatively easy to care for once established. It’s quite resilient and adaptable, making it a good choice for both beginner and experienced gardeners looking to grow Barbados cherry.

• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your Barbados Cherry live plant will arrive carefully packed in its 3-gallon nursery pot, with its root system and soil intact. We take great care to ensure it arrives healthy and ready to plant.

• Q: When is the best time to plant a Barbados Cherry? A: If you are planting outdoors, spring or early summer is generally the best time, after all danger of frost has passed. Container plants can be planted year-round, but it’s best to avoid extreme heat or cold during transplanting.

• Q: Can I use the fruit from this plant? A: Absolutely! The fruit from the vitamin c fruit plant is edible and highly prized for its tart-sweet flavor and exceptionally high Vitamin C content. It’s great for fresh eating, juices, jams, and more.

• Q: How long until it starts producing fruit? A: Given its size (2-3 feet tall), your Barbados Cherry plant may start producing fruit within 1-2 years after planting, especially with good care and ideal growing conditions.

• Q: What kind of soil is best for Barbados Cherry? A: It prefers well-draining, fertile soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. A good quality potting mix with added organic matter is ideal for container growing.

• Q: Will this plant attract pests? A: While generally robust, like any plant, it can occasionally encounter pests. Regular inspection and good plant hygiene can help prevent most issues. A healthy, well-cared-for plant is more resistant to pests and diseases.