Ornamental and prolific, the Açaí Palm is an excellent offering for tropical gardeners. A staple food amongst the natives of the Amazonian River Delta, such as for the Tupian people from whose language the name Açaí has been derived from. Long enjoyed throughout its natural range, the Açaí Palm is now extensively cultivated for the export of its sought-after berries with the extracted pulp and juice utilized in beverages and various other products. Açaí are now known for their reported health benefits, with the antioxidant and vitamin rich fruits widely consumed such as in the popular Açaí Bowl. Fruits by themselves are quite insipid with a thin amount of flesh although newer varieties are sweeter and less fibrous. Açaí Fruits are borne below the fronds from branched, hanging panicles characteristic of palms. From the multitude of miniscule white infloresences, a vast number of fruits are formed, maturing to a dark purple or black colour with the size of a Raspberry. Slender and tall, the Açaí Palm can reach heights of up to 30m although in cultivation it commonly reaches maximum heights of only 10m, making for a much more manageable tree. Like all Palms, the Açaí Palm is well suited for ornamental purposes, with the space concious tree providing attractive feathery fronds and distinct variation to a landscape. Açaí Palm grows well in humid, tropical swamps and floodplains, tolerating poor drainage and seasonal flooding when in ideal equatorial conditions. Plants have very little tolerance for cold temperatures, dying below 5 degrees celcius and being highly marginal in subtropical climates, although some success has been reported in the subtropical North Coast of NSW. Provide young trees with shade, allowing them to mature into a full sun position reminiscent of their natural rainforest habitat. Copious producers of nutritous berries, Açaí Palms require ample rainfall or irrigation to sustain production. Under these conditions, the trees can yield fruit throughout the year, although they more commonly produce two large harvests. With its sought-after, increasingly popular fruits, the Açaí Palm makes for a unique and economical choice in tropical climates. With its highly sought-after and increasingly popular fruits, the Açaí Palm stands out as a unique and economical in tropical climates.
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