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Barbados Cherry

Malpighia glabra

Other common name(s):

Wild Crapemyrtle, Acerola, Manzanita

Family:

Malpighiaceae (Barbados Cherry Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Southern Texas Plains
Coastal Sand Plain, Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies
Rio Grande Floodplain and Terraces, Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Shrub

Height

3
to
6
ft.

Spread

3
to
6
ft.

Leaf Retention

Semi Evergreen

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Limestone, Well Drained

Light Requirement

Part Shade

Water Requirement

Medium

Native Habitat

Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Pink

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Berry, Nectar, Larval Host, Flowers

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Small Mammals

Maintenance

 It is useful as a dense screening hedge that may be left soft, sheared, or as a specimen. Propagation: Softwood cuttings.

Comments

Blooms January-December. Barbados Cherry develops into a thick, rounded canopy of fairly delicate foliage. Evergreen above 25 degrees F. Small pink flowers appear periodically from April to October and are followed about one month later by bright red berries that are prized by birds and small mammals. Larval Host: Brown-banded Skipper, White-patched Skipper, Florida Duskywing, Cassius Blue. Replaces invasives: Nandina

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 250. 3) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=MAGL6. 4) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=14453&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 5) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=565291#null, 6) Native and Adapted Landscape Plants, City of Austin and Texas A&M, 2014.

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State Office Phone: 830.997.9272

State Office Address:
Native Plant Society of Texas
PO Box 3017
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

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