Pixie Acerola

Pixie Acerola (Malpighia emarginata 'Pixie') is a compact shrub about 1.5m tall and wide that earns its place twice. Dainty pink flowers attract birds and butterflies, and they are followed by red fruit like miniature apples that are very high in vitamin C and antioxidants. It suits warm, frost free gardens, hedges and pots.

Why you'll love it

• Fruit rich in vitamin C. The red fruit is very high in vitamin C and antioxidants, and it grows on a plant small enough for a courtyard.
• Pretty, wildlife friendly flowers. Bright pink, windmill like flowers attract birds and butterflies.
• A compact selection. It stays about 1.5m high and wide, a neat size for hedges, feature plantings and pots.
• Many uses. Grow it as a fruiting hedge, a feature shrub, a potted plant or even a bonsai.
• Easy care. A light clip and a slow release fertiliser once a year keep it looking good.

Where it works best

Fruiting hedges. Plant 1m apart for a soft hedge that flowers and fruits. Clip lightly once a year to keep it neat.

Edible gardens and feature planting. A single plant works as a feature shrub among herbs and productive beds, close enough to the kitchen to pick the fruit.

Pots and bonsai. Its neat size and light clipping suit large containers on a warm patio, and trained forms for bonsai.

Growing Pixie Acerola in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade. It needs a tropical to subtropical position and must be frost free. In cooler gardens, treat it as a potted plant that lives under cover in winter.

Soil. Plant in well drained, well mulched soil, or in a good potting mix in a container.

Water and feed. Keep the mulch topped up and the soil evenly moist while the plant is young and while fruit is setting. Feed once a year with a slow release fertiliser.

Pruning. A light clip once a year keeps the shape neat. It takes trimming well into a low hedge or a pot specimen.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Pixie Acerola as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. Expect a small plant that needs a warm, frost free start. Plant it out in a sunny, well mulched spot or pot it on, water it regularly, and it grows towards its 1.5m size.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse edible plants
• More fruit trees
• Compare the best hedging plants
• Fruit trees for every season

Common questions

What can I do with the fruit?

The fruit is edible and very high in vitamin C and antioxidants. Pick it when it is fully red.

Will it grow in a cool climate?

It needs tropical to subtropical conditions and must be frost free. In cooler areas, grow it in a pot and keep it under cover in winter.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes. It is suited to pots and even bonsai. Use a well drained potting mix, full sun to part shade, and give it a light clip once a year.