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Barbados Cherry Flower Wikimedia Commons
Malpighiaceae

Barbados Cherry Flower

Malpighia emarginata

Vitality and nourishment.

Family
Malpighiaceae
Genus
Malpighia
Native to
Caribbean, Central America, South America
Bloom season
Spring, Summer
Type
shrub
Height
6-15 ft
Sunlight
full sun
Soil
well-drained, sandy to loamy
Water
moderate
Hardiness
9-11
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • The fruit (acerola) contains 50 to 100 times more vitamin C per weight than oranges.
  • The small five-petaled flowers are pollinated by specialized oil-collecting bees found only in the Americas.
  • A single tree can produce up to 200 pounds of fruit per year in tropical conditions.
  • The fruits ripen remarkably fast, going from flower to ripe fruit in just 22 to 25 days.
  • During World War II, the US government studied acerola as a potential vitamin C supplement for soldiers.

Color meanings

0

health

1

vitality

Uses

  • fruit production
  • ornamental shrub
  • vitamin C supplement source
  • hedge