Peach Palm, Bactris gasipaes is a slender and erect, single or multi-stemed palm growing to a height of 20 to 30 meters. Generally armed with sharp, black spines in regular bands, has feathery leaves 3 to 4 meters long and yellowish intermingled male and female flowers similar to chestnut. The plant is indigenous to the Amazonian area. This palm tree is highly regarded as a nutritious source of food.


Peach Palm Fruit

There is much variation in size, color and quality of fruit. The yellow or red, 3-5cm long fruit hangs in clusters of 100 to 300 possesses a starchy flesh and they are generally eaten after boiling in salt water. The fruit has a thin skin, starchy flesh and a single seed. A palm with 4 to 5 stems can produce up to 70 kg of fruit a season and if kept under refrigeration can keep up to 6 weeks.

Fruit is caustic in its natural state and it is customary to first boil the fruit for 3 hours in salted water, remove the skin and eat as it is. Pre-boiled fruit can be fried or roasted. Some times it is made into a jam. The heart of the palm is also edible and it is a traditional stable food of the local population of the Amazon regions. The wood was traditional material used for bows, spears and darts.

The Peach Palm requires a tropical climate and an elevation below 2000 meters. In order to fruit well it needs an elevation of below 1700 meters as production above that will be compromised. However, at low elevations with high rainfall the tree will not succeed. It does well on all but thrive best on fertile well drained soils.

Pejibaye can be grown from seeds and from suckers. Seeds will germinate in three months after planting and the tree will grow rapidly, 12 to 15 meters in 10 to 15 years. Palms may take up from four to eight years to fruit. Pejibaye is a decorative, fruitful palm for the home garden.

Peach Palm Propagation Methods

Plant propagation is by seed, which experiences underground germination. Seeds normally germinate in 30-90 days without any special treatment but should be covered with about 2-3cm of soil or decomposed sawdust. Furthermore, asexual propagation techniques include offshoots and tissue culture.

peach palm, Bactris gasipaes

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