Seed Availability

Seeds are now available at our seed store.

Description

A slender palm, growing to 40-90ft. Fruit crops ripen twice a year with single fruit clusters numbering up to almost 1000. A single tree may produce thousands of fruits a season. Fruits ripen to a deep purple, almost black color.

Hardiness

Hardy to 35-40F, the Acai Palm doesn't grow very well outside of humid, warm environments.

Growing Environment

Grow in full sun or part shade. Needs a consistently warm, humid environment with regular water. Water frequently. Grow in rich, well-drained and moist soil.

Propagation

By seeds, which can germinate in a few weeks to a couple of months. Plant seeds in well-drained soil mixture. Water regularly but do not allow standing water.

Uses

The fruits are eaten raw, though usually processed into juices as the pulp content in individual fruits is low. Acai juice has become a popular health product in recent years and many juices now include Acai as a blend with more familiar flavors. Pulp is also used in desserts and to flavor ice creams. The recent interest in Acai probably results from its numerous potential health benefits, although many are still under investigation. Fruits are very high in antioxidants as well as flavinoid-like compounds. Medically, pulp extract has shown anti-inflammatory activity, immune system stimulation and in some studies, anti-cancer/tumor activity. This is also a source (though not the primary) of edible palm hearts.

Native Range

Native from Belize, south through Brazil and parts of Peru.

Related Species

Arecaceae
	Aiphanes aculeata Coyupe Palm		Areca catechu Betel Nut
	Arenga engleri Dwarf Sugar Palm		Astrocaryum vulgare Tucuma Palm
	Bactris maraja Maraja Palm		Brahea armata Mexican Blue Palm
	Brahea edulis Guadalupe Palm		Butia capitata Jelly Palm
	Butia eriospatha Wooly Jelly Palm		Butia purpurascens Purple Yatay Palm
	Butia yatay Yatay Palm		Caryota urens Wine Palm
	Cocos nucifera Coconut		Cyrtostachys renda Sealing Wax Palm
	Dypsis decaryi Triangle Palm		Euterpe edulis Jussara Palm
	Euterpe oleracea Acai Palm		Euterpe precatoria Forest Acai
	Jubaea chilensis Chilean Wine Palm		Licuala grandis Vanuatu Fan Palm
	Lodoicea maldivica Coco de Mer		Mauritia flexuosa Moriche Palm
	Serenoa repens Saw Palmetto		Syagrus oleracea Bitter Coconut
	Syagrus romanzoffianum Queen Palm		Syagrus vagans Wandering Palm