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Category: Edible Fruits and Nuts Tropicals and Tender Perennials
Height: 20-30 ft. (6-9 m)
Spacing: 15-20 ft. (4.7-6 m)
Hardiness: USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F) USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F) USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F) USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Sun Exposure: Sun to Partial Shade
Danger: N/A
Bloom Color: Rose/Mauve
Bloom Time: Mid Spring Late Spring/Early Summer
Foliage: Evergreen
Other details: This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater Self-sows freely; deadhead if you do not want volunteer seedlings next season Provides winter interest
Soil pH requirements: 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Patent Information: Non-patented
Propagation Methods: From semi-hardwood cuttings By grafting
Seed Collecting: Seed does not store well; sow as soon as possible
On Sep 23, 2006, LindaTX8 from NE Medina Co., TX (Zone 8a) wrote:
I really like this plant. When it blooms, it's just delightful. A little bit unpredictable on blooming, but that's okay. It attracts insects and buterflies. It also is a host plant for certain skippers.
On May 23, 2006, CarolesJungle from Naples, FL (Zone 10a) wrote:
I grow this tree for the wonderful pink flowers and sort of weeping limbs. Sometimes I cut a twig and add to a vase flower arrangement. I notice butterflies and birds are attracted to the flowers and fruit. Very hardy in my yard once established.
On Jun 3, 2005, CatskillKarma from West Kill, NY wrote:
I've never grown this plant, but in my Puerto Rican neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY, frozen juice/nectar is readily available and it is very delicious and a beautiful color as well.
On Apr 7, 2004, Monocromatico from Rio de Janeiro Brazil (Zone 11) wrote:
This plant can be used both as decorative, or for the fruits. The pink flowers and red fruits are ornamental. These fruits are tasty, juicy, and can be eaten in natura, or in juices. The acerola is also reputated as one of the fruits with the highest levels of vitamin C.
It lives confortably in tropical climates, and isn´t very demanding on soil types, as long as it´s well drained. Regular watering, high temperatures and full sun are necessary.
On Aug 2, 2003, IslandJim from Keizer, OR (Zone 8b) wrote:
Either a small tree or large shrub. It's native to the West Indies and Central and South America. The leaves have the color and texture of holly leaves--dark green and almost brittle. The fruit is very tasty and very high in vitamin C [up to 2,000 milligrams per 100 grams of edible flesh], maybe the highest of all fruit. Peak bloom time is April-May when it is a mass of small pink flowers.
Regional...
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
Yuma, Arizona Bartow, Florida Boca Raton, Florida Bradley, Florida Fort Lauderdale, Florida Groveland, Florida Melbourne, Florida Merritt Island, Florida Mulberry, Florida Naples, Florida Ocoee, Florida Pompano Beach, Florida Rockledge, Florida Saint Petersburg, Florida Sarasota, Florida Venice, Florida Wauchula, Florida West Palm Beach, Florida Winter Garden, Florida Waipahu, Hawaii Gonzales, Louisiana Lafayette, Louisiana Austin, Texas (3 reports) Converse, Texas Crawford, Texas Georgetown, Texas Harlingen, Texas Helotes, Texas La Coste, Texas Marion, Texas Missouri City, Texas San Antonio, Texas (3 reports)