Characteristics
| Hardiness zone | 10b |
|---|---|
| Flower color | pink |
| Foliage type | evergreen |
| Plant form | upright spreading |
| Mature height | 18 feet |
| Spread | 15 feet |
| Light requirements | full sun |
| Moisture requirements | dry to average |
| Plant origin | import |
Acerola
Botanical name: Malpighia emarginata
A tropical, fruit bearing shrub or small tree, with a nice upright habit and dark green foliage; red-pink flowers are followed by edible fruits that are high in vitamin C; requires wind protection because of shallow roots; great for the back of borders.
Other names: Barbados Cherry, West Indian Cherry
Ornamental Features
Acerola features showy clusters of fragrant pink flowers at the ends of the branches from late spring to early summer. The fruits are showy scarlet drupes carried in abundance in late summer. It has dark green foliage. The fuzzy oval leaves remain dark green throughout the winter.
Landscape Attributes
Acerola is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.
This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting birds, bees and butterflies to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;
Messy
Acerola is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Accent, Mass Planting, Hedges/Screening, General Garden Use, Container Planting
Planting and Growing
Acerola will grow to be about 18 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.
This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for xeriscaping or the moisture-conserving landscape. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in sandy soils, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. This species is not originally from North America.
Acerola makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Its large size and upright habit of growth lend it for use as a solitary accent, or in a composition surrounded by smaller plants around the base and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.
