Barbados Cherry Tree Live Plant – 12 inch, High Yielding, Cold Hardy, Outdoor

Overview

Bring the joy of fresh, homegrown fruit to your garden with a Barbados Cherry Tree live plant. This remarkable tree, scientifically known as Malpighia emarginata, is celebrated for its abundant production of delicious, nutrient-rich cherries. Originating from the Caribbean, Central, and South America, the Barbados Cherry Tree live plant is a fast-growing, evergreen shrub or small tree that can thrive in various warm climates. It’s an excellent choice for gardeners looking for a productive fruit tree that also adds ornamental value. The cherries are not only sweet and tangy but also packed with Vitamin C, making them a healthy addition to your diet. This particular offering is a 12-inch plant, ready to establish itself in your outdoor space and begin its journey towards providing you with a consistent supply of delightful fruit.

The appeal of growing a Barbados Cherry Tree live plant extends beyond its fruit. Its attractive foliage and delicate pink flowers contribute to its aesthetic charm, making it a beautiful addition to any landscape. The plant’s ability to produce fruit quickly is a significant advantage for those eager to see rapid results from their gardening efforts. Whether you’re an experienced horticulturist or a budding gardener, this tree offers a rewarding growing experience with minimal fuss, promising a sweet reward for your care.

Key Benefits

The Barbados Cherry Tree live plant offers a multitude of benefits, making it a prized addition to any home garden:

• Abundant Fruit Production: This tree is a prolific producer, yielding a high volume of sweet and tangy cherries. You’ll have plenty of fruit for fresh eating, juicing, making jams, and even baking, ensuring a continuous supply throughout its fruiting season.
• Nutrient-Rich Harvest: Barbados cherries are renowned for their exceptionally high Vitamin C content, far surpassing that of oranges. Incorporating these cherries into your diet can significantly boost your immune system and overall health.
• Fast Growth and Early Fruiting: The Barbados Cherry Tree live plant is known for its rapid growth rate, allowing it to establish quickly. Even better, it typically begins producing fruit in a relatively short amount of time after planting, giving you a quicker return on your gardening investment.
• Cold Hardy Adaptability: Described as a cold hardy cherry tree, this plant shows resilience to cooler temperatures within its recommended zones (USDA Zones 9-11). This makes it a versatile option for gardeners in subtropical and tropical regions, capable of withstanding occasional temperature drops.
• Versatile Culinary Use: The unique sweet and tangy flavor of Barbados cherries makes them incredibly versatile. They are perfect for fresh consumption, but also excel in juices, smoothies, jams, jellies, pies, and other desserts, offering a delightful taste experience.
• Attractive Landscape Addition: Beyond its fruit, the Barbados Cherry Tree live plant is an attractive evergreen with glossy green leaves and delicate pink to lavender flowers that bloom before fruiting. It adds ornamental beauty to your garden year-round, enhancing curb appeal.
• Easy to Grow: This high yielding fruit tree is relatively low-maintenance once established, making it suitable for gardeners of all experience levels. Its adaptability to different soil types and climates, within its hardiness zones, contributes to its ease of care.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Barbados Cherry Tree live plant is straightforward, ensuring a healthy and productive tree. For optimal growth and fruit production, select a location that receives full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. While it can tolerate partial shade, fruit yield will be significantly reduced. This sweet cherry tree thrives in tropical and subtropical climates, specifically USDA Zones 9-11, where it can withstand typical winter temperatures. In colder parts of Zone 9, some winter protection might be beneficial during exceptionally cold spells, reinforcing its status as a cold hardy cherry tree. Good air circulation is also important to prevent fungal diseases, so avoid planting in overly crowded areas.

When it comes to soil, the Barbados Cherry Tree live plant prefers well-draining soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0-7.0). While it can adapt to various soil types, enriching the soil with organic matter before planting will promote robust growth. Water regularly, especially during dry periods and when the plant is actively fruiting. The soil should be kept consistently moist but not waterlogged, as this can lead to root rot. During the dormant season, reduce watering frequency. Fertilize your high yielding fruit tree with a balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring, and then again in mid-summer, following the product’s instructions for application rates. Pruning should be done to maintain shape, remove dead or diseased branches, and encourage better air circulation and fruit production. Minimal pruning is typically needed for this sweet cherry tree, focusing on structural integrity and light thinning.

Pest and disease issues are generally minimal for the Barbados Cherry Tree live plant. Keep an eye out for common garden pests like aphids or spider mites, and treat with organic pest control methods if necessary. Ensuring proper cultural practices, such as adequate watering, sunlight, and air circulation, will help prevent most problems. With consistent care, your Barbados Cherry plant care routine will be simple and rewarding, leading to years of delicious fruit.

Size & Details

This offering is for a Barbados Cherry Tree live plant, measuring approximately 12 inches in height at the time of shipment. It is typically shipped as a young plant, ready for outdoor planting. While it arrives without a pot to facilitate easier transplanting, it is carefully packaged to ensure its health during transit. This high yielding fruit tree is known for its relatively fast growth rate, and with proper care, it can reach a mature height of 10-15 feet, though it can be kept smaller with regular pruning. The plant will begin producing fruit in a short amount of time, often within 1-2 years of planting, making it a quick producer compared to many other fruit trees. Expect a bushy growth habit, with a spread similar to its height if left unpruned. This cold hardy cherry tree is perfect for establishing a productive and beautiful addition to your garden.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this Barbados Cherry Tree live plant get? A: With proper care and growing conditions, a mature Barbados Cherry Tree live plant can reach a height of 10-15 feet and a similar spread. However, its size can be managed with regular pruning to fit smaller garden spaces or even container growing.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Barbados Cherry Tree live plant is primarily an outdoor plant, thriving in warm climates. It is suitable for outdoor planting in USDA Zones 9-11. In colder zones, it can be grown in a container and brought indoors during winter.
• Q: How much sunlight does this sweet cherry tree need? A: This high yielding fruit tree requires full sun exposure, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily, to ensure optimal growth and fruit production. While it can tolerate partial shade, fruiting may be reduced.
• Q: What condition will the Barbados Cherry Tree live plant arrive in? A: Your Barbados Cherry Tree live plant will arrive as a 12-inch plant, carefully packaged without a pot to ensure its health during shipping. It will be ready for immediate transplanting into your garden or a larger container upon arrival.
• Q: Can I use Barbados cherries in cooking? A: Absolutely! Barbados cherries are incredibly versatile. Their sweet and tangy flavor makes them perfect for fresh eating, juices, smoothies, jams, jellies, and various baked goods. This sweet cherry tree offers a bounty of culinary possibilities.
• Q: When is the best time to plant a cold hardy cherry tree? A: The best time to plant your Barbados Cherry Tree live plant is in the spring or early summer, after the last threat of frost has passed. This allows the plant ample time to establish its root system before the colder months.
• Q: Is this high yielding fruit tree easy to care for? A: Yes, the Barbados Cherry Tree live plant is considered relatively easy to care for, especially once established. It requires consistent watering, plenty of sunlight, and well-draining soil. Its adaptability makes it a good choice for both novice and experienced gardeners.
• Q: What is the recommended Barbados Cherry plant care for watering? A: Water your Barbados Cherry Tree live plant regularly, keeping the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Increase watering frequency during dry spells and when the plant is actively fruiting. Reduce watering during cooler, dormant periods.
• Q: How long until it blooms and produces fruit? A: This high yielding fruit tree is known for its fast growth and early fruiting. You can typically expect your Barbados Cherry Tree live plant to start blooming and producing fruit within 1-2 years of planting, given proper growing conditions.
• Q: Will this cold hardy cherry tree survive winter in my zone? A: This cold hardy cherry tree is best suited for USDA Zones 9-11. In Zone 9, it may require some protection during severe cold snaps. It thrives in tropical and subtropical conditions and is not suitable for prolonged freezing temperatures without significant protection.