Family: MALPIGHIACIAE
Other common names are West Indian cherry, native cherry.
A very attractive, slow growing, evergreen shrub to a height of about 6 m. The leaves are a glossy dark green. It is a very tough and versatile plant, which will grow in any soil under almost any conditions, although it does prefer a moist soil and responds well to mulching. The tree does well on limestone, marl and clay as long as it is well drained. Lime should be added to acid soils. It is moderately drought and salt spray tolerant and is frost hardy to - 2°C.
Young trees need regular watering, but once established should only need watering in drought. The tree is susceptible to root knot nematode, especially in sandy soil.
The plant should begin to fruit after about 4 years. The fruit is cherry - like, 1.25 - 2.5 cm in diameter, red to crimson and almost black when ripe. The flesh is the same colour, soft and juicy and sweet when well grown. It is very high in Vitamins C and A. The pink flowered variety is the most productive. As well as being eaten fresh, it can also be used in drinks and can be dried. Wine made from the Barbados cherry was found to retain 60% of the ascorbic acid.
It is a good animal forage. It makes a good hedge or pioneer species.
Nutritional composition of the Barbados cherry per 100 grams of edible portion is: Water -81.9 - 91.10%, Energy - 59 calories, Carbohydrate - 6.98- 14.0 g, Fat - 0.18 - 0.1 g, Protein -0.68 - 1.8 g, Ash - 0.77 - 0.82 g, Calcium - 8.2 - 34.6 mg, Iron - 0.17 - 1.11 mg, Phosphorous -16.2 - 37.5 mg, Vitamin A - 408 - 1000 I.U., Thiamin - 0.0.024 - 0.040 mg, Riboflavin - 0.038 -0.079 mg, Niacin - 0.34 - 0.526 mg, Ascorbic acid ranges from 4,500 mg in the green fruit, 3,300 mg in the medium ripe fruit to 2,000 mg in the very ripe fruit.
The bark contains tannin (20 - 25%) and can be used for tanning. The wood is hard and heavy.
The wood will not burn unless totally dried. The juice of the fruit is gargled to relieve sore throat. The fruit is beneficial for coughs, colds, diarrhoea, dysentry and liver complaints. The leaves and petioles have tiny stinging hairs which can cause skin irritation.
The Barbados cherry can be grown from seed and usually grows true to type. It can also be propagated by grafting or from cuttings.