Acerola is a perennial grown for its fruit. It's hardy across USDA zones 9 through 11. Its flowers are a real draw for native bees, even though the fruit is the prize. It roots deep, which helps it reach moisture in a dry spell and open up tight soil as it establishes.
Zones
9-11
pH Range
5-8
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score Acerola on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether acerola actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score acerola against your land's real conditions.
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What Acerola is
Acerola grows as a perennial.
How to grow Acerola
Acerola grows in USDA zones 9 through 11. Acerola does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5 to 8, on well-drained ground. It needs a growing season of at least 270 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
9-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5 - 8
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
41°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
270+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant acerola in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Acerola prefers pH 5 to 8 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at maturity
Pick when the fruit is full-colored and parts easily from the stem. Local Cooperative Extension guides publish timing tables.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — acerola isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Acerola is a standout pollinator plant — high value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Acerola thrives
Acerola is hardy across USDA zones 9 through 11. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 9–11·Where Acerola growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Acerola can grow in these states:
See if Acerola will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether acerola actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Acerola in my zone?
Acerola grows in USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Acerola?
Most growers plant acerola after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 270-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Acerola need?
Acerola needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Acerola need?
Acerola prefers soil pH 5 to 8, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Acerola attract pollinators?
Yes — acerola's flowers are a strong nectar and pollen source for native bees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Acerola safe for pets?
Acerola is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.