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Barbados 'Acerola' Cherry Tree

$9995 $19995
Size

Your Plants are Guaranteed to Grow

Your plants are guaranteed to arrive happy & healthy with our 1 Year Warranty. Your order will arrive healthy and stay healthy while they adapt to your climate. If your tree arrives damaged or dies within 30 days, we'll replace it for free. If it dies after 30 days, but before 1 year, we will replace it for just 50% of the current price.

Free Shipping on All Orders

Relax... we've got you covered with free shipping on every order! We ship out so many huge plants, we've negotiated a low rate with our carriers... and we pass those savings on to you! Your plants will ship out the next business day... expertly packed so that your plants will arrive happy and healthy!

Is Now a Good Time to Plant?

Yes! Fall is one of the best times to plant!

Landscaping experts often recommend planting in fall instead of waiting until spring. Here’s why:

  • Cooler weather puts less stress on newly planted trees and shrubs.
  • Fall soil is still warm, which helps roots grow and get established.
  • Cooler temperatures mean less water is lost through the leaves, making it easier for plants to stay hydrated.
  • Even after top growth slows for winter, roots continue developing below ground.
  • Fall weather often brings more rain and less heat, making new plants easier to care for.
  • By spring, your plants already have a head start. Their established roots can support strong new leaves, branches, and flowers.
  • Trees planted in spring must establish their roots while also dealing with rising temperatures and summer heat.

Plant this fall, and your trees can spend the cooler months getting settled instead of waiting until spring to get started!

Planting your Barbados 'Acerola' Cherry Tree

Sunlight: Prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade. More sunlight means better fruit production.

Watering: Moderate water needs; prefers well-draining soil and doesn’t tolerate soggy roots. Once established, it’s drought-tolerant.

Soil: Well-draining, sandy or loamy soil works best. Slightly acidic to neutral pH is ideal.

Pruning: Light pruning helps maintain shape and encourages more branching (and more fruit!).

Fertilization: A balanced fertilizer during the growing season keeps it productive and healthy.

What Customers say about the Barbados 'Acerola' Cherry Tree:

The Barbados 'Acerola' Cherry Tree thrives in Zones 9-11

Growing Zones for the Barbados 'Acerola' Cherry Tree

If you live in the green area above, we recommend the Barbados 'Acerola' Cherry Tree.

Your Growing Zone
Recommended Zones 9-11
Mature Height 10-12 ft.
Mature Width 10-15 ft.
Cannot Ship To AZ, OR, CA, ID, WA
Sunlight Full Sun
Botanical Name Malpighia glabra

Plants that Make a Difference

For 20+ years, our team has shipped healthy, established plants to gardeners like you- all across the country. Every plant is selected and cared for by our plant experts before it ships to your door.

  • 20+ Years Experience

  • Superior Quality

  • Free Shipping on All Orders

  • Guaranteed to Grow

Barbados Acerola Cherry tree branches loaded with beautiful red cherries.

Beware- not all Barbados 'Acerola' Cherry Trees are the same.

Be sure to get superior fruit trees, grown by experts.

Better Roots Make Stronger Plants: Some nurseries send you "bare root" fruit trees to save on shipping. Even worse, others have started digging them right out of the ground before shipping. This causes major transplant shock and long-term damage. We send you Barbados 'Acerola' Cherry Trees in soil-filled containers- ensuring a well-developed root system that is ready to grow and produce!

Healthy Plants: We've seen other nurseries grow tall fruit trees in tiny pots to save on shipping. This leads to a "root bound" tree, where the roots have outgrown their pot- they cannot absorb water and nutrients. They quickly dry out during shipment, leading to an unhealthy tree.

Barbados Acerola Cherry tree foliage and fruit with sunlight illuminating the branches.

The Barbados Acerola Cherry is a fast-growing tropical fruit tree with glossy leaves and generous harvests of bright red cherries.

  • Bright red cherries with a tart-sweet flavor, great fresh or in juices and jams
  • Fast to fruit: it often produces within the first year or two
  • Multiple crops: fruits in spring and summer, and several times a year in very warm climates
  • Grow it anywhere: outdoors in zones 9-11, or in a container you bring indoors before frost

Not all plants are created equal

The Difference Is in the Roots

Every plant we ship has grown in a nursery container with its roots protected, so it arrives healthy, established and ready to thrive in your yard.

A full, branched Nationwide Plants tree in a nursery pot next to a thin bare-root tree with exposed roots Ours: container grown Theirs: bare root
Nationwide Plants Other Nurseries
How it's grown Grown in a nursery container, roots protected the whole time Pulled or dug from the field, tearing fragile roots
How it arrives Arrives in its pot with soil intact Arrives bare root, exposed and drying out
Before shipping Growing naturally until it ships Held dormant in a cooler, then shocked by a hot shipping box
Root health Strong, well-developed roots with room to grow Crammed into a small pot until it's root bound
Height Measured from the top of the soil Often includes the pot and roots
After planting Settles in quickly with less transplant shock Arrives stressed and can take years to recover, if it does

The height you see is the height you plant.

We measure every plant from the top of the soil, not the bottom of the pot. Many nurseries include the pot and roots, so a "5–6 ft." tree from them might stand only 4 ft. tall once it's planted.

Comparisons reflect common practices across the online plant industry, not any single company.

Large row of Barbados Acerola Cherry trees full of cherries.

Honest Measurements: Some nurseries measure plants including the pot and roots, so the plant you receive is much smaller than you expected. We measure all of our plants from the soil line, so the height you see is what you can expect after planting.

From our nursery to your door

How We Ship Your Plants

Every order is hand-selected, watered and carefully packed so it arrives healthy and ready to plant. Here's what happens after you place your order.

  1. Hand-Picked for You

    Our team selects the best plant available for your order. For privacy trees, that's the tallest and fullest. For fruit trees, it's the best branched.

    Why it matters: Many online nurseries ship whatever is next in the row.

  2. A Deep Drink Before the Trip

    Every plant gets a thorough watering right before it's packed, so it starts the journey fully hydrated.

  3. Roots Sealed In

    We wrap the pot and roots in plastic to lock in moisture, so your plant has water to drink all the way to your door.

    Why it matters: Bare-root plants are often shipped with their roots exposed and drying out.

  4. Braced for the Ride

    Cardboard inserts are secured inside every box to hold your plant in place, so it won't slide, tip or get damaged in transit.

  5. Shipped Only by FedEx

    We ship your trees exclusively with FedEx. We've found they deliver the fastest and handle live plants the most gently.

And if anything goes wrong, every plant is backed by our 1 Year Warranty.

Healthy Roots Make a Huge Difference

  • Never buy bare-root plants. These trees are starved of nutrients, and have a low survival rate.
  • Beware of nurseries cut corners by growing in small pots. These "rootbound" plants are weak, struggle to absorb nutrients, and die quickly after planting.
  • Some nurseries try to sell oversized plants, but chop off vital roots so they can cram the rootball into a narrow box to save on shipping!
Barbados Acerola Cherry tree close up of 2 ripe red cherries with green foliage.

You Want Barbados 'Acerola' Cherry Trees Grown by Experts

Some nurseries ship thin, underdeveloped fruit trees grown in tiny pots to save money. These weak, "root bound" trees can spend years recovering before they give you a real harvest.

Nationwide Plants only sends you strong Barbados 'Acerola' Cherry Trees, selected and cared for by our plant experts, with healthy, developed roots. A strong start helps your tree settle in quickly and begin bearing fruit, often around 1-2 years after planting.

Read more about the Barbados 'Acerola' Cherry Tree

Barbados Acerola Cherry: Fast-Growing with a Touch of Sweetness

The Barbados Cherry (Malpighia emarginata), also known as Acerola Cherry Tree, is the perfect mix of beauty and function. This fast-growing tropical fruit tree gives you a generous harvest of bright red cherries packed with tart-sweet flavor. Whether you enjoy them fresh, turn them into jams, or blend them into homemade juices, these cherries bring a burst of tropical taste straight to your home.

Beyond its delicious fruit, this tree is a gorgeous addition to any landscape. Its glossy green leaves provide year-round beauty, while delicate pink and purple flowers attract butterflies and pollinators. Plus, its compact size makes it an excellent choice for small gardens, patios, or even container growing.

Why You’ll Love It:

  • Heavy Fruit Producer – Yields abundant cherries in the spring and summer, sometimes fruiting multiple times a year in warm climates.
  • Compact & Versatile – Perfect for containers, small gardens, or yards of any size.
  • Nutrient-Rich Fruit – Acerola cherries are known for their exceptionally high vitamin C content. One cherry contains more vitamin C than an entire orange! (Source: USDA)
  • Low Maintenance – Drought-tolerant once established and resistant to many pests.
  • Attracts Pollinators – Bees and butterflies love the delicate flowers, making it great for a pollinator-friendly garden.

Why It's a Good Container Tree

  • Compact Size: With a manageable mature height (especially when pruned), it’s well-suited for pot cultivation.
  • Drought Tolerant: Once established, it doesn't need constant watering, which helps with container care.
  • Fast Growing: You'll get fruit relatively quickly—sometimes within the first year or two.
  • Attractive: Glossy green foliage, pink flowers, and bright red fruit make it decorative as well as functional.

What Makes It Special?

Unlike traditional cherry trees that require cold winters, the Barbados Cherry thrives in warm climates, making it a fantastic alternative for gardeners in zones 9-11. Even if you live in a cooler climate, you can grow it in a container and bring it indoors during colder months.

Its fruit is unique too—soft, juicy, and packed with a mix of sweet and tart flavors, similar to a cranberry crossed with an apple. Fresh off the tree, they’re a refreshing snack, but they also shine in smoothies, syrups, and even tropical cocktails.

Perfect For:

  • Edible Landscaping – A fruiting tree that looks just as good as it tastes.
  • Small Spaces & Patios – Its compact nature makes it an easy fit.
  • Pollinator Gardens – Bring in the butterflies and bees.
  • Tropical & Subtropical Gardens – Thrives in warm, humid climates.

If you love the idea of picking fresh, nutrient-packed cherries right from your own backyard, the Barbados Cherry is a must-have. Add it to your garden and enjoy both its beauty and its bounty!

Plant Details

  • Mature Height: 6-12 feet (can be kept smaller in containers)
  • Mature Width: 4-8 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
  • Botanical Name: Malpighia emarginata
  • Other Common Names: Acerola Cherry Tree, West Indian Cherry, Barbados Cherry Tree, Thai Cherry

Frequently Asked Questions about the Barbados 'Acerola' Cherry Tree

How big does a Barbados Acerola Cherry Tree get?

A Barbados Acerola Cherry Tree typically reaches 10 to 12 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide when planted in the ground. It responds well to pruning, so you can keep it much smaller as a hedge or patio specimen. Trees grown in containers stay noticeably more compact than in-ground trees.

What zones can you grow an Acerola Cherry Tree outdoors?

The Barbados Acerola Cherry Tree grows outdoors year-round in USDA zones 9 through 11. Unlike traditional cherries, it does not need cold winters and thrives in warm, humid climates. Gardeners in cooler regions can grow it in a container and bring it indoors or into a greenhouse before frost arrives.

Can you grow a Barbados Acerola Cherry Tree in a container?

Yes, the Barbados Acerola Cherry Tree is a great container plant. Its manageable size, tolerance for pruning, and drought tolerance once established make pot culture easy. Use a large pot with drainage holes and well-draining mix, place it in a sunny spot, and move it indoors when temperatures drop toward freezing.

How long does it take an Acerola Cherry Tree to bear fruit?

A Barbados Acerola Cherry Tree often begins producing fruit within the first year or two after planting. It is a fast grower and a heavy producer, bearing bright red cherries in spring and summer. In very warm climates, it can flower and fruit several times in a single year.

How much sun does a Barbados Acerola Cherry Tree need?

The Barbados Acerola Cherry Tree performs best in full sun. It can tolerate some partial shade, but more sunlight means more flowers and a bigger cherry harvest. Indoors or in cooler regions, give potted trees the brightest location available, such as a south-facing window or sunny patio.

How often should I water an Acerola Cherry Tree?

Water a Barbados Acerola Cherry Tree moderately, letting the top of the soil dry slightly between waterings. It dislikes soggy roots, so well-draining sandy or loamy soil is important. Young trees need regular water to establish, while mature trees become drought-tolerant and handle short dry spells well.

What do Acerola cherries taste like?

Acerola cherries have a soft, juicy texture with a tart-sweet flavor often compared to a cranberry crossed with an apple. They are famous for their exceptionally high vitamin C content. Enjoy them fresh off the tree or use them in juices, smoothies, syrups, jams, and tropical cocktails.

What soil is best for a Barbados Acerola Cherry Tree?

A Barbados Acerola Cherry Tree grows best in well-draining sandy or loamy soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Avoid heavy clay that stays wet. Feed with a balanced fertilizer during the growing season to keep the tree productive, and use a quality potting mix for container-grown trees.

How do you prune a Barbados Acerola Cherry Tree?

Prune a Barbados Acerola Cherry Tree lightly to maintain its shape and size. Trimming branch tips encourages more branching, which leads to more flowers and more fruit. Remove dead or crossing wood as needed. Regular light pruning also keeps container-grown trees compact and easy to move indoors.

Which states can the Barbados Acerola Cherry Tree ship to?

Due to agricultural shipping restrictions, the Barbados Acerola Cherry Tree cannot ship to AZ, OR, CA, ID, or WA. Most other states can receive it. Keep in mind it only survives outdoors in zones 9 to 11, so gardeners in colder areas should plan to grow it in a container.
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