Barbados cherry tree, Malpighia emarginata – Plant – BCT-988537

Description

Growing Barbados Cherry is an easy way to add a tropical flair to your garden. When you know its important and how to care for Barbados Cherry plant, you will be rewarded with many years of lovely fruits.

What makes it special:Popular for its highest vitamin C content.
Low maintenance plant.
Perfect plant for outdoor garden.

This product does not have the flowers and fruits at the time of shipping. Afterward, the plant will bloom and produce fruits.Malpighia emarginata is an evergreen shrub or small tree with a short bole and spreading branches in the Malpighiaceae family. It usually grows about 2-3 m in height. The branches are brittle. The leaves are simple, opposite, and with small hairs. The flowers are bisexual with five pink or red petals. The fruits are bright red drupes, juicy, and has high vitamin C content making the fruits taste sour. The fruits are edible, usually eaten raw but also made into juices, baby food, jam, etc. It is also grown as ornamental shrub and hedges in Landscaping.Keep spacing 4 for a hedge. It gives fewer fruits in partial shade. It requires warm climate. It can be propagated by seeds, cuttings and other methods. A width of pots should be around 24 inches for single acerola tree.Note: Stinging hairs that may cause skin irritation.Plant Specifications

Plant Height
25 inch (64 cm)

Plant Spread
5 inch (13 cm)

*above specification are indicative only. actual dimensions may vary by +-10%

Common Name
Barbados cherry, West Indian cherry and wild crepe myrtle, Acerola.

Maximum Reachable Height
Up to 2-3 meter

Flower Colour
Pink

Bloom Time
April-October

Difficulty Level
Easy

Planting and care
Refer our Garden Guide for detailed procedures and meanings of words related to gardening.

Sunlight Morning sunlight of more than 6 hours a day is ideal for flowering and fruit development. SoilThe soil should be well drained,fertile and rich in organic content for growing Barbados Cherry plant.WateringPoke your finger/plain small stick into the soil to check the moisture.Apply 4 cup (approx.200ml) of water when the top soil (1-2 inch) in the pot feels dry to touch.Do not overwater the plant.As a rule of thumb, water the plants thoroughly in summer and reduce watering in winter and rainy season.Water should be applied preferably in the morning or evening.Application of FertilizerBefore application of fertilizer loosen the topsoil without disturbing the roots of the plant so, it can uptake the nutrients and moisture easily.Apply organic fertilizer once a month during the main growing season (February-May)Apply water immediately after application of fertilizer.Plant ProtectionRemove dead, infected or damaged plant parts and discard them away from the plants.For any insect attack or disease, you can use Neem oil, Eucalyptus oil or Citrus oil spray for primary treatment.
DontsDo not overwater the plant specially when pot doesnt have drainage hole.Avoid applying water in hot afternoon it may cause fungus infection.Barbados cherry tree careInitial care for 1-2 weeks after receiving plant at your location:Poke your finger/plain small stick into the soil to check the moisture.Apply 4 cup (approx.200ml) of water when the top soil (1-2 inch) in the pot feels dry to touch.Keep the plant in indirect bright light.Do not re-pot for min. 2 weeks after receiving it.
Key requirements to keep plant healthy:

Sunlight
Natural bright light with morning sunlight(more than 6 hours)

Watering
Apply 4 cup(approx.200ml) of water when the top soil (1-2 inch) in the pot feels dry to touch

Soil
Well drained, fertile and rich in organic content

Temperature
15-30 Degree Celsius

Fertilizer
Apply organic fertilizer once a month during main growing season (February-May)

Harvest Season
After 1 month from flowering(June – July)

Barbados cherry tree special featureDrought tolerant and highest vitamin C contentBarbados cherry tree uses
Ornamental Use:
The plant is used for an ornamental hedge purpose
Medicinal Use:

Barbados Cherry is most well-known for being extremely rich in vitamin C
Because of this, its often used to help with or prevent colds or flu
Its also used as an antioxidant nutrient
Note: The following information is general guidelines, be sure to ask your healthcare provider for guidelines

Culinary Use:

Ripe fruit is edible and widely consumed in native area, and is cultivated elsewhere for its high vitamin C content
The fruit can be used to make juices and pulps, vitamin C concentrate, and baby food, among other things