Barbados Cherry LIVE Fruit Tree

Barbados Cherry aka Acerola Fruit Tree Self Fertile LIVE Perennial Plant
Malpighia glabra
Also called Bajan cherry or West Indian cherry

Watch my YouTube video guide on how to grow Barbados cherries for more info: https://youtu.be/h-v4yL4kLDQ

Listing is for one rooted plant. Plants are grown in 72 cell trays so that they will be rooted but small enough for efficient shipping. Check out my YouTube video "Live Plant Care Guide & Delivery Unboxing for my Customers" for further instructions on what to expect with your live plant delivery and care tips: https://youtu.be/BmPw4rKLwDk

I cannot express how much I LOVE my Barbados cherry tree. It is the closest thing to a traditional "cherry" that I can grow here in my Florida garden. It is native to the Caribbean so it grows and produces great in tropical and sub-tropical areas. It produces fruit almost all year round, making it very productive. The plants are self fertile, so you only need one. But if you have two growing next to each other, they will cross pollinate which increases yields. My trees start to bloom around April/May once warmer weather arrives. Fruits are ready to harvest in about 3 weeks from bloom. The fruit is soft, juicy, and has a thin skin. The flavor is delicious, reminding me of fruit punch drinks. The Barbados cherry doesn't have a hard pit inside. Instead, it contains 2-3 seeds that are easy to spit out. These little cherries are packed with Vitamin C and eating just 2-3 cherries provides more than the daily requirement.

Barbados cherry is a fast growing tropical fruit tree that will mature at around 12FT tall (if planted in ground and not pruned). It kind of looks like a young bushy oak tree. However, the tree can be pruned down to a lower height or maintained as a shrub. It actually makes a great option as a landscaping hedge or shrub line since its ornamental but provides something edible. If needed, the Barbados cherry can be grown in containers (try to grow in the biggest container that you can find).

How long will it take to start fruiting? Approximately 2-3 years if grown in ideal conditions. This is a well rooted starter plant that will grow quickly. Barbados cherry is a fast growing fruit tree that will start producing earlier compared to other fruit tree options.

Growing Conditions
USDA Hardiness Zones: 8-11
Does not like temperatures below 30F. Protect young plants if temperatures drop below 40F. Once established, they can take brief periods of cold down to 28F.
Perennial/Semi-Evergreen
Self-fertile but will produce more if there are 2 plants that can cross pollinate with each other
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Everything grows best in soil that is heavy in composted organic matter BUT this fruit tree grows just fine in a variety of soils without amendments, like my native Florida sandy soil.
Fertilizer: Use citrus fertilizer. My favorite is Espoma organic granular citrus-tone. Fertilize young trees to encourage lots of healthy growth with about 1/8 cup every 1.5 months. Once trees are established, I barely fertilize. I'll throw some fertilizer its way a few times a year, starting in spring to help "wake" up the tree.