PlantFiles: Assai Palm, Acai Palm
Euterpe oleracea

Lots of seed available, from de Colombian Pacific coast, very beautyfull. Ornamental.

THis palm is a very tropical palm- high in its needs for heat and water (can even live in swamps). It is barely able to survive in south Florida, but it does. Not a hope in the world of getting it to survive anywhere in southern California, though. This is also the primary species used for canned palm hearts... as killing a stalk to harvest the heart only kills that stalk- the palm, since it clusters, can go on living to be harvested later.. and it's pretty fast growing so it can replace the cut canes in a few years. Excellent landscaping palm if you can water it a LOT... otherwise tends to yellow and suffer a bit.

This is the genuine Assai palm. The round dark purple fruits are largely used in Brazil for juices, energetic food, sweets, ice cream, etc.. The stems can be used as pillars for small houses, and the leaves can be used to cover the roof. The heart of the palm can be used in substitution to the traditional palmetto (Euterpe edulis.)

It's cultivated in humid regions, specially along with rainforests. It needs high temperatures, rich organic soil, and high moisture. Will grow better with some shade and slow wind.