Açaí palm Euterpe oleracea
Açaí palm (Euterpe oleracea) is an evergreen perennial tree in the Arecaceae family, native to Amazon estuary floodplain forests of Brazil (Pará) and the Guianas. It grows 6–12 m (20–39 ft) tall and 3–6 m (10–20 ft) wide, wants full sun and high water, and is hardy to about 4 °C (39 °F). Space plants about 4 m (13 ft) apart.
Plan Açaí palm in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Açaí palm at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Arecaceae |
| Mature height | 6–12 m (20–39 ft) |
| Mature spread | 3–6 m (10–20 ft) |
| Spacing | 4 m (13 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | High; drought tolerance none, waterlogging tolerance high |
| Soil pH | 4.5–6.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About 4 °C (39 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 10) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 38 °C (100 °F) |
| Flowering | about 156–261 weeks after planting, for 9–29 weeks |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Yes: fruit pulp, palm heart |
| Native to | Amazon estuary floodplain forests of Brazil (Pará) and the Guianas |
| Common in gardens of | 🇧🇷 Brazil |
Is Açaí palm toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references; the fruit seed is hard and a choking hazard.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Açaí palm
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and high water.
See Açaí palm in a botanical garden
It grows in this sample garden, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro (4 plants)
Questions about Açaí palm
- How far apart should I plant Açaí palm?
- About 4 m (13 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 3–6 m (10–20 ft).
- Does Açaí palm need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Açaí palm need?
- High water. Drought tolerance is none and waterlogging tolerance high.
- How cold-hardy is Açaí palm?
- It tolerates about 4 °C (39 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 10.
- When does Açaí palm flower?
- About 156–261 weeks after planting, for 9–29 weeks.
- Is Açaí palm poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references; the fruit seed is hard and a choking hazard.
- What grows well with Açaí palm?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Açaí palm. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (high).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- EcoCrop crop environmental requirements, FAO
- UF/IFAS Extension tropical and subtropical fruit and landscape publications, University of Florida
Notes and assumptions
- Clumping, multi-stemmed palm of wet, humid, frost-free (zone 11) sites; young plants prefer light shade. Tolerates seasonal flooding but not drought or cold below about 4 °C. Stems are cut for palm heart in plantations.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Coconut palm Cocos nucifera
- Date palm Phoenix dactylifera
- Mexican fan palm Washingtonia robusta
- African oil palm Elaeis guineensis
- Areca palm (golden cane palm) Dypsis lutescens
- Chilean wine palm Jubaea chilensis
- Joey palm Johannesteijsmannia altifrons
- Clustering fishtail palm Caryota mitis