Malpighia glabra aka Barbados Cherry

Malpighia glabra is a shrub or small tree. It stays green year-round. People call it Barbados cherry, acerola, and escobillo. It belongs to the Malpighiaceae family. Its home range runs from southern Texas through tropical America. This range includes Venezuela, Ecuador, and parts of the Caribbean. It grows in the tropics where there is a dry season. Wild plants grow on rocky sites with limestone. It shares common names with Malpighia emarginata, which can cause mix-ups. That is a separate species. It supplies fruit crops grown for sale in Puerto Rico.

Garden plants reach about 10–12 feet (3–3.7 m) tall. They spread 10–15 feet (3–4.6 m) wide. Other accounts report smaller plants. Some give heights near 20 feet (6 m). A Florida landscape account says growth is slow. Several stems can form a round crown above a short trunk. Branches may spread out and droop. Young twigs are thin and brown. The green leaves are simple, with one blade each. They grow in pairs, opposite or almost opposite each other. They have smooth edges and pointed shapes. Their pinnate veins branch from a central vein. Leaves measure 2–4 inches long and stay green all year.

Small pink flowers bloom in spells from April to October. Bees pollinate them. The plant is not self-fertile. Bright red fruit follows about a month after bloom. The fruit is round to egg-shaped, with flesh around it. Florida accounts give widths of about half an inch to one inch. Birds visit the fruit. It may stay on the plant. People eat it fresh or cook it. Its taste ranges from sweet to tart. People use it for juice, sauces, jam, and jelly. Other uses include wine and purée. The fruit has high levels of vitamin C.

Grow this plant in full sun or part shade. It needs rich soil that drains well. It accepts sand, loam, and clay. Reports say it tolerates acid to slightly alkaline soil. It prefers moist soil. Once settled in, it can withstand drought. Florida guidance places it in USDA zones 9b–11. Frost can damage it. Sources disagree on how well it copes with salt. Its fitness for coastal sites is thus unclear. Garden uses include hedges, screens, borders, and large pots. Train several trunks to form a small accent tree. You can grow new plants from cuttings or by layering.

Nematodes, whiteflies, scale, and plant bugs can attack it. Plant bugs may spoil the fruit's shape. Pests seldom harm its health over the long term. Florida guidance does not list it as invasive. People have used the fruit as remedies for coughs. They have also used it for digestive complaints. These reports do not prove a medical benefit. The bark supplies tannin and gum. People use the hard wood for small utensils. The sources report no known hazards. This does not prove safety for every pet or use.