There are no serious pest problems of trees except birds and other animals that attack maturing fruit. The plant has poor salt tolerance and should be protected by buildings or other more salt tolerant plantings if used close to the ocean or Intracoastal areas. Plant trees in a rich, well-drained soil once well established, they are quite resistant to most conditions including high winds. It is not tolerant of waterlogged conditions and should be grown on well-drained soils. Trees grow rapidly, often three to four feet or more in a single growing season.Ĭaimito can grow over a wide range of soils and are one of the few trees that actually grows well in highly alkaline soils, even at pH's up to 7.5. The fruits do not normally drop and, therefore, must be picked and allowed to ripen off the tree. It bears fruit year around after it reaches about seven years of age. The flattened seeds are light brown and hard.
#Purple star apple skin#
The skin is rich in latex, and both it and the rind are not edible. The purple-skinned fruit is often green around the calyx, with a star pattern in the pulp. The purple fruit has a denser skin and texture while the greenish brown fruit has a thin skin and a more liquid pulp. Both have very sweet whitish flesh which is very good and is usually eaten as a fresh fruit. The fruit size can be from 2-1/2 to 3 inches in diameter and there are two varieties, one with purple skin and one with green skin. Trees produce a delicious fruit, and the fruits are born during the early to late spring. The tree is hermaphroditic (self-fertile). Flowers are produced during the summer through early fall. The tiny flowers are purplish white and have a sweet fragrant smell. These attractive leaves are deep green above and a silky golden brown beneath and as the wind rustles the foliage this gives a strikingly beautiful effect.
Like all Sapotaceae, broken leaves, or cut bark, produces dripping, white latex. The twig zig-zags between leaves (like the Annonaceae), and also has soft, red pubescence. The underside of the leaves is a striking, velvety, somewhat iridescent red, created by dense, soft hair. Leaves are alternate, arranged regularly along branches, in a flat plane.
The leaves are evergreen, alternate, simple oval, entire, 3-6" long the underside shines with a golden color when seen from a distance. The tree can reach a height of 40 feet in its native areas. Occasionally grown commercially in parts of south Florida. Native to tropical America, this fruit tree is now grown commercially in Central and South America as well as tropical Asia and Africa. it has very few problems and produces quantities of delicious fruit each year for one to enjoy. It is one of the few trees that grows well in highly alkaline soils. The fruit has a mild grape-like flavor, and is best eaten fresh. Caimito is a favorite in the Caribbean and Central America as well as Southeast Asia.
The common name of this fruit is derived from the star-like appearance of the core when the fruit is cut in cross section. It is one of the most attractive tropical fruit trees for its foliage. This beautiful shade tree has glossy dark green leaves with a silky bronze color underneath. Origin: Central America and the West Indies Scientific name: Chrysophyllum cainito, Achras caimitoĬommon names: Caimito, Star Apple, Satin Leaf, Golden leaf tree, Abiaba, Pomme du lait, Eestrella, Aguay Chrysophyllum cainito - exotic fruit with grape flavor.
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