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acerola

Malpighia emarginata DC.

Family: Malpighiaceae · Genus: Malpighia

Barbados cherry, West Indian cherry

Secondary I High No biomass production
Eric Gaba (Sting - fr:Sting) · CC BY-SA · Wikimedia Commons

Small fruit shrub; fruits exceptionally rich in vitamin C. Pasini lists it in the high stratum of Tabela 3 and cites it among Abundance-system species (high stratum).

Götsch succession

Götsch stage
Secondary I
Ecological role
Early secondary
Primary stratum
High
Strata
High, Medium
Biomass class
No biomass production

Environment

Light requirement
Full sun
Water requirement
Moderate
Drought tolerance
High
Soil pH range
5.5–6.5
Preferred soil texture
Sandy, Loamy, Clayey
Hardiness zones
9–12
Frost tolerance
-2.0 °C

Morphology

Mature height
2–5 m
Recommended spacing
3–4 m
Root system
Fibrous
Root depth
Shallow
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
≥ 15 years
Time to first harvest
24 months

Biomes & climate

Köppen classes

Where it fits in a guild

Acerola takes the High stratum in the Secondary I phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

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Emergent High · ≈5 m Medium Low Ground cover

🪴 Cultivation

Hardy; grows on light to clayey well-drained soils, slightly acidic (pH 5.5–6.5), tolerating very acid and saline soils. Shallow root system — low tolerance to strong winds. USDA zones 9b–12; young plants withstand ~-1 °C and mature plants ~-2 °C briefly, but it is frost-sensitive. Flowering and fruiting are rain-triggered, in several flushes through the warm wet season.

📅 Phenology

Flowering months: September, October, November, December, January, February, March

Fruiting months: October, November, December, January, February, March, April

❓ Frequently asked questions

How long until the first harvest of acerola?

The first harvest of acerola comes around 24 months after planting.

What spacing is recommended for acerola?

The recommended spacing for acerola is 3–4 m.

How tall does acerola grow?

At maturity, acerola reaches 2–5 m tall.

When does acerola fruit?

Fruiting of acerola occurs in October, November, December, January, February, March, April.

When does acerola flower?

Flowering of acerola occurs in September, October, November, December, January, February, March.

What stage and stratum does acerola occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, acerola belongs to the secondary i stage, occupying the high stratum.

Functions

🍎 Fruit Medicinal 🍯 Melliferous

Propagation

Seed, Cutting, Grafting

Citations

  1. Pasini, F. & Guimarães, L. (2017) — Conceitos e princípios práticos da agrofloresta sucessional, Tabela 3 (Incaper) , p. 116 (primary_stratum)
  2. Pasini, F. & Guimarães, L. (2017) — Sistema de Abundância , p. 118 (gotsch_stage)
  3. PFAF Plant Database — Malpighia emarginata (Acerola, Barbados Cherry) (ph_min, ph_max, soil_texture_preference, drought_tolerance, light_need)
  4. California Rare Fruit Growers — Acerola Fruit Facts (frost_tolerance_c, root_system, root_depth, spacing_min_m, spacing_max_m, phenology, time_to_first_harvest_months)
  5. greg.app — Acerola Hardiness Zones (9a–11b) (hardiness_zone_min, hardiness_zone_max, frost_tolerance_c)

External references

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