Barbados cherries, botanically a part of the Mapighia genus, are tropical to subtropical fruits belonging to the Malpighiaceae family. The fruits grow individually or in groupings of 2 to 3 fruits and are found on evergreen shrubs to small trees reaching 3 to 4 meters in height.
Barbados cherries are also known as Acerola, West Indian cherry, Antilles cherry, Semeruco, Wild Crepe Myrtle, Garden Cherry, Cerisier in French, Cerejeira in Portuguese, and Acerola, Semeruco, and Cereza in Spanish. The species is mainly planted in home gardens, favored as a fast-growing, low-maintenance, and hardy plant, and is suitable for container or ground growing.
Barbados cherries are famously known for their high vitamin C content.