Overview

Bring the joy of fresh, homegrown fruit to your space with a vibrant dwarf Barbados cherry tree. This live plant, also known as Acerola cherry (Malpighia emarginata), is celebrated for its compact size, attractive foliage, and prolific production of vitamin C-rich fruits. Our 12-18 inch tall specimen arrives ready to thrive, cultivated in a 6-inch nursery pot. Whether you’re looking to enhance your patio, balcony, or even a sunny indoor spot, this dwarf Barbados cherry tree offers an exciting opportunity to grow your own delicious and highly nutritious fruit. Its ability to produce fruit year-round in optimal conditions makes it a truly rewarding addition to any garden or home.

The acerola cherry plant is a fantastic choice for those with limited space, offering the benefits of a fruit-bearing tree without requiring extensive room. Its adaptability allows it to flourish in various environments, making it a versatile option for plant enthusiasts of all levels. Experience the satisfaction of harvesting your own sweet and tangy Barbados cherries, known for their health benefits and culinary versatility.

Key Benefits

Adding a dwarf Barbados cherry tree to your collection brings a multitude of advantages, from its ornamental appeal to its practical yield of nutritious fruit. This delightful plant is more than just a beautiful specimen; it’s a source of fresh produce and a conversation starter.

• Year-Round Fruit Production: Enjoy a continuous supply of fresh, vitamin C-packed Barbados cherries. In ideal warm conditions, this acerola cherry plant can produce fruit multiple times throughout the year, offering a consistent harvest for your kitchen.
• Compact & Space-Saving: As a dwarf fruit tree, it’s perfectly suited for smaller spaces. Ideal for container gardening on patios, balconies, or as an attractive indoor plant near a bright window, making fresh fruit accessible to everyone.
• High in Vitamin C: Barbados cherries are renowned for their exceptionally high vitamin C content, significantly surpassing that of oranges. Growing your own ensures a fresh and potent source of this essential nutrient.
• Ornamental Appeal: Beyond its fruit, the dwarf Barbados cherry tree boasts glossy green leaves and delicate pink flowers, adding year-round beauty to your living space or garden.
• Easy to Maintain: This resilient plant is relatively low-maintenance, making it suitable for both beginner and experienced gardeners. With basic care, you can expect a healthy and productive plant.
• Versatile Use: The fresh cherries can be enjoyed directly from the tree, or used in juices, jams, desserts, and cocktails, adding a unique tropical flavor to your culinary creations.
• Adaptable to Indoor & Outdoor Environments: Thrives equally well indoors in a sunny spot or outdoors in warmer climates, providing flexibility in placement and year-round enjoyment.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your dwarf Barbados cherry tree is straightforward, ensuring a healthy plant and abundant fruit. Understanding its basic needs for sunlight, water, and soil will help you grow Barbados cherry successfully. These plants thrive in conditions that mimic their native tropical environment, but they are also quite forgiving.

Sunlight Requirements: The acerola cherry plant prefers full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. If growing indoors, place it near your brightest window, preferably south-facing. For outdoor plants, choose a location that receives ample sunlight throughout the day. While it can tolerate some partial shade, consistent full sun encourages more prolific flowering and fruiting.

Watering Schedule & Soil Moisture: This plant prefers consistently moist, but not waterlogged, soil. Water thoroughly when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. During hot, dry periods, or when the plant is actively fruiting, it may require more frequent watering. Ensure good drainage to prevent root rot. Reduce watering slightly during cooler months or if grown indoors in lower light conditions.

Soil Type & Drainage: A well-draining potting mix is crucial. A good quality universal potting soil amended with perlite or sand for extra drainage works well. The ideal soil pH is slightly acidic to neutral (6.0-7.0). If planting in the ground, ensure the soil is loose and drains effectively. Poor drainage is detrimental to this plant’s health.

Temperature Range & USDA Hardiness Zone: The dwarf Barbados cherry tree thrives in warm conditions and is best suited for USDA hardiness zones 9-11 for outdoor planting. In colder zones, it must be grown in a container and brought indoors before the first frost. It prefers temperatures above 50°F (10°C) and can tolerate heat well. Protect it from freezing temperatures.

Fertilization: During the growing season (spring through fall), feed your plant every 4-6 weeks with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer or a liquid fertilizer formulated for fruiting plants. Reduce or stop fertilization during winter months. Follow the product instructions for application rates. A balanced fertilizer with micronutrients will support healthy growth and fruit production.

Pruning: Prune to maintain shape, encourage bushier growth, and improve air circulation. The best time to prune is after a fruiting cycle. Remove any dead, diseased, or crossing branches. Light pruning can also stimulate new growth and more flowers.

Size & Details

This offering is for a healthy dwarf Barbados cherry tree, a live plant specimen measuring approximately 12-18 inches in height from the base of the plant to the top of its foliage. It arrives expertly grown in a 6-inch nursery pot, providing a robust root system ready for transplanting or continued growth in its current container. The compact nature of this dwarf fruit tree makes it an excellent choice for container gardening, easily fitting on a patio, balcony, or as an indoor accent. While it is a relatively fast grower, it can be kept to a manageable size with regular pruning. Expect your plant to begin producing its small, bright red, nutrient-rich fruits, often year-round, once established and mature. The plant will be carefully packaged to ensure its safe arrival, ready to be introduced to its new home and begin its journey of growth and fruiting.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this dwarf Barbados cherry tree get? A: While it’s a dwarf variety, its ultimate size can vary. In optimal conditions, it can reach 6-10 feet tall if planted in the ground, but it can be easily maintained at 3-5 feet in a container with regular pruning, making it an ideal dwarf fruit tree for smaller spaces.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: This acerola cherry plant is versatile. It can be grown outdoors year-round in USDA zones 9-11. In colder climates, it thrives as a container plant that can be moved indoors during winter.
• Q: How much sunlight does the dwarf Barbados cherry tree need? A: It requires at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily to produce the best fruit. If growing indoors, a bright south-facing window is ideal.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the dwarf Barbados cherry tree is considered relatively easy to care for. It’s quite resilient and forgiving, making it a good choice for gardeners of all experience levels who want to grow Barbados cherry.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your dwarf Barbados cherry tree will arrive as a live, healthy plant, approximately 12-18 inches tall, securely packaged in its 6-inch nursery pot. We take great care to ensure it reaches you in excellent condition.
• Q: How long until it blooms and produces fruit? A: Typically, a young acerola cherry plant can begin to flower and set fruit within 1-2 years of planting, sometimes even sooner under ideal growing conditions. It is known for its ability to produce fruit year-round once mature.
• Q: What is the best way to grow Barbados cherry in a pot? A: Use a well-draining potting mix in a container with drainage holes. Ensure it gets full sun and water regularly, especially during warm periods. Fertilize during the growing season and bring indoors if temperatures drop below 50°F (10°C).
• Q: Can the fruit be eaten directly from the tree? A: Absolutely! The small, red Barbados cherries are delicious and highly nutritious. They are best enjoyed fresh, but can also be used in various culinary applications.
• Q: Will this plant survive winter in my zone if I live outside USDA zones 9-11? A: If you are outside zones 9-11, you must grow your dwarf Barbados cherry tree in a container and protect it from frost by bringing it indoors during the colder months. It is not cold-hardy.