The Acai Palm ( Euterpe oleracea ) is a tall, clumping palm tree. It is native to tropical areas of South America. These trees can often found growing naturally along water ways; or in areas with seasonal flooding in their native environment. The fruit of the Euterpe oleracea is black to dark purple in colour and contain beneficial vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. The juice from the Acai berry is apparently the highest consumed beverage in the Amazon, with some drinking up to a litre a day.
Suitable for Tropical climates where average annual temperatures are mid 20°C and nights do not drop below 15°C. This species is not frost tolerant.
Other common names include Assai, Huasai & Acai Branco.
Growth
Euterpe oleracea is a clumping palm and grows on average an extra 4-8 stems (trunks). In their native regions, they have been known to develop as many as 20 stems; with each stem getting as tall as 20-25 metres. However in cultivation, they can mature anywhere between 3-10 metres in height. This is due to them not having to compete with other species for light; as they would in rainforest circumstances. Acai Palms prefer a shaded location under the canopy of other trees while young, although often become a canopy tree themselves once full grown.
The very attractive leaves are pinnately compound, typically palm like and can reach 3-4 metres in length. Although the leaves grow in an erect way, the pinnae (individual leaves) are pendulous (hang downwards) and can be over a metre long.
The fruit is black-purple in colour and usually measures anywhere between 1-2 cm’s in diameter, the seed takes up most of the fruits size, with the edible flesh and skin taking up only approximately 2-3 mm of the full size. Each individual tree stem can produce 5-8 bunches of fruit twice a year, with each bunch containing 500-800 fruits per bunch, so once this palm is fruiting – there is no shortage of edible fruit.
Acai Palm can be grown in cooler regions but are high care and would need a climate controlled greenhouse during the winter.
FAMILY:
Arecaceae
CLIMATE:
Tropical & Sub-Tropical
TEMPERATURE RANGE:
15 to 35°C / 60 to 95°F – consistent humidity
SOIL TYPE:
Moist and organically rich Sand, Silt, Clay soils.
LOCATION:
Part Shade – Full Sun
HEIGHT:
Up to 25 metres (82 feet)
WIDTH:
Up to 15 metres (50 feet). This is highly variable; depending on quantity of clumping stems.
pH:
5.8-6.5
GROWTH TYPE:
Evergreen, Fast Growing, Clumping.
WATER REQUIREMENTS:
Medium
POLLINATION:
Insects. Bisexual Flower
MATURITY:
4-8 years
GERMINATION RATES:
77-81%
GERMINATION TIME:
50-80 days
SEEDS PER KILOGRAM:
Approximately 900
MEDICINAL QUALITIES:
Yes
WEED POTENTIAL:
No.
FACTS ABOUT EUTERPE OLERACEA (Acai Palm)
Euterpe oleracea has played a part in traditional Amazonian medicine for centuries and is used to treat a number of ailments. More studies are required to show effectiveness of their use for these and potentially other medicinal purposes.
The leaves of the Acai Palm are used for weaving.
In its native lands, the juice from the Acai Berries was labelled ‘a poor mans juice’, only recently when its potential health benefits were noticed by western culture; did it become a popular and expensive ingredient! Acai Berry juice is now commonly available in supermarkets and health food stores.
