Barbados Cherry Tree Live Plant – 3 Gallon Pot, 3 Feet Tall, Fruit Tree

Overview

Bring the tropics to your garden with this beautiful Barbados Cherry Tree live plant. Also known as Acerola Cherry or West Indian Cherry, this fast-growing fruit tree is a fantastic addition for anyone looking to enjoy fresh, vitamin-rich fruit directly from their yard. This particular specimen is a robust 3-gallon plant, standing approximately 3 feet tall, making it an excellent size for immediate planting and establishment. The Barbados Cherry is celebrated not only for its delicious, tart-sweet red berries but also for its ornamental value, featuring attractive foliage and sometimes delicate pink flowers before fruiting. Ideal for USDA Zones 9-11, this tree is a joy to cultivate and provides a continuous harvest of healthful fruit over several months.

The Barbados Cherry Tree live plant is a resilient and rewarding choice for both seasoned gardeners and beginners. It adapts well to various soil conditions, provided they are well-draining, and flourishes under ample sunlight. Whether you’re planning to grow it in a container on a patio or integrate it into your garden landscape, this tree promises to be a productive and visually appealing feature. Its compact growth habit, especially when pruned, also makes it suitable for smaller spaces, allowing more gardeners to experience the pleasure of harvesting their own fresh acerola cherries.

Key Benefits

Investing in a Barbados Cherry Tree live plant offers a multitude of advantages, from its health-boosting fruit to its aesthetic appeal in your garden. Here are some of the key benefits:

• Exceptional Nutritional Value: The fruit of the Barbados Cherry is renowned for being one of the richest natural sources of Vitamin C, far surpassing oranges. Enjoying fresh cherries directly from your tree can significantly boost your immune system and overall health.
• Abundant and Continuous Harvest: Unlike many fruit trees that have a short fruiting season, the Barbados Cherry can produce fruit almost continuously from spring to fall in warm climates. This means a steady supply of fresh cherries for snacking, juices, and jams.
• Fast Growing and Productive: This tree is known for its rapid growth rate and can start producing fruit within a year or two of planting. You won’t have to wait long to enjoy the fruits of your labor with this productive acerola cherry tree.
• Attractive Ornamental Plant: Beyond its fruit, the Barbados Cherry features glossy green leaves and delicate pink to lavender flowers that add beauty to your garden. It can be grown as a shrub or trained into a small tree, offering flexibility in landscaping.
• Drought-Tolerant Once Established: While it appreciates regular watering, especially during fruiting, the Barbados Cherry becomes quite drought-tolerant once established, making it a relatively low-maintenance option for many climates.
• Versatile Growing Options: This plant can thrive in a variety of settings, including garden beds in suitable zones, or in large containers on patios and balconies, especially in cooler regions where it can be moved indoors during winter.
• Supports Local Wildlife: The flowers attract pollinators like bees, and the fruit can provide a food source for birds, contributing to the biodiversity of your garden ecosystem.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Barbados Cherry Tree live plant is straightforward, especially when you understand its basic needs. This tropical fruit tree thrives in conditions that mimic its native environment. For sunlight, it requires full sun exposure, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. The more sun it receives, the better its flowering and fruiting will be. If growing indoors or in a greenhouse in cooler climates, ensure it gets the brightest possible light.

When it comes to watering, the Barbados Cherry prefers consistent moisture, especially during its active growing and fruiting seasons. Allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out between waterings to prevent root rot, but do not let the plant remain dry for extended periods. Good drainage is crucial; therefore, a well-draining, sandy or loamy soil is ideal. Regular watering will significantly improve fruiting. The optimal temperatures for this plant range between 70 degrees Fahrenheit and 95 degrees Fahrenheit, making it suitable for USDA Zones 9–11. In areas with frost, container growing is recommended so the plant can be brought indoors.

Fertilization can be done every 2-3 months during the growing season using a balanced, slow-release fertilizer or one formulated for fruit trees. Pruning should focus on maintaining shape, encouraging bushier growth, and removing any dead or diseased branches. This also helps to manage the size of your dwarf cherry tree. While generally robust, keep an eye out for common pests like aphids or spider mites, treating them with organic insecticidal soaps if necessary. Ensuring proper air circulation and avoiding overwatering will help prevent fungal issues. Providing these basic care requirements will ensure a healthy and productive tropical fruit tree for years to come.

Size & Details

This offering is for one vigorous Barbados Cherry Tree live plant, which arrives ready for planting in a 3-gallon nursery pot. The plant stands approximately 3 feet tall from the base of the pot to the top of its foliage, providing a substantial start for your garden or container. The plant’s dimensions are roughly 8 inches wide by 8 inches deep, with an overall height including the plant of about 45 inches. The Barbados Cherry is known for its relatively fast growth rate, and with proper care, it can begin producing fruit within a year or two. It typically grows into a large shrub or small tree, reaching heights of 6-10 feet if left unpruned, and can be easily maintained at a smaller size with regular pruning. The plant is shipped with its roots intact in soil, ensuring a smooth transition to its new home.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this Barbados Cherry Tree get? A: This Barbados Cherry Tree live plant arrives at approximately 3 feet tall in a 3-gallon pot. With ideal conditions, it can grow into a large shrub or small tree, reaching heights of 6-10 feet. Its size can be managed with regular pruning.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? How much sunlight does it need? A: The Barbados Cherry Tree is primarily an outdoor plant in USDA Zones 9-11. It requires full sun exposure, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth and fruiting. In colder zones, it can be grown in containers and brought indoors during winter.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? Is it good for beginners? A: Yes, the Barbados cherry plant care is considered relatively easy, making it a good choice for beginners. It needs plenty of sunlight, consistent watering, and well-draining soil. Once established, it’s quite resilient.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? Is it shipped in soil? A: Your Barbados Cherry Tree will arrive as a live, healthy plant in its 3-gallon nursery pot, complete with soil. We take great care in packaging to ensure it reaches you in excellent condition, ready for planting.
• Q: How long until it blooms and produces fruit? A: This tropical fruit tree is known for its fast growth. With proper care, it can start blooming and producing its first fruits within 1 to 2 years of planting. Fruiting season typically spans from spring through fall in warm climates.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? What’s the minimum temperature? A: This plant thrives in USDA Zones 9-11 and prefers temperatures between 70°F and 95°F. It is not frost-tolerant. If you live in a zone colder than 9, it is best to grow this dwarf cherry tree in a pot so it can be moved indoors during colder months.
• Q: What type of soil does the Barbados Cherry Tree prefer? A: The Barbados Cherry prefers well-draining, sandy or loamy soil. Good drainage is essential to prevent root rot. Amend heavy clay soils with organic matter to improve drainage.
• Q: Can I grow this Acerola Cherry Tree in a container? A: Yes, this acerola cherry tree is very suitable for container growing, especially if you live outside its recommended USDA zones. Be sure to use a large pot with good drainage holes and provide adequate sunlight.
• Q: Are the cherries edible, and what do they taste like? A: Yes, the cherries are edible and highly prized for their high vitamin C content. They have a distinct tart-sweet flavor, often described as a mix between a cherry and a tart apple.
• Q: How often should I fertilize my Barbados Cherry Tree? A: It’s recommended to fertilize your Barbados Cherry Tree live plant every 2-3 months during its active growing and fruiting season using a balanced, slow-release fertilizer designed for fruit trees.