Star apple.

En un coup d'œil

Niveau d'entretien

Moyenne

Type de plante

Tropical fruit tree

Lumière

Full sun to partial shade

Lumière en intérieur

Lumière vive indirecte

Arrosage

Tous les 3 à 7 jours

Taille adulte

25 to 50 feet

Croissance

Moyenne

Rusticité

USDA 10 à 12

Floraison

Late spring to early summer

Entretien

Keep this tree in a spot with plenty of warmth and protection from strong winds. Watch for yellowing leaves which might signal poor drainage or nutrient issues. It thrives best when you maintain consistent moisture during its active growing season.

Arrosage

Water deeply whenever the top few inches of soil feel dry to the touch.

Engrais

Apply a balanced fertilizer during the growing season to support fruit production.

Taille

Prune lightly once a year to maintain shape and remove any dead branches.

Rempotage

Repot only if the tree is in a container, otherwise it prefers to stay in the ground.

Sol

Well draining loamy soil

pH du sol

5.5 to 7.0

Température

10 à 35°C

Humidité

60 à 90%

Sécurité

Humains

The plant is generally non-toxic, but the sticky latex sap can cause irritation if it contacts sensitive skin.

Enfants

The fruit contains seeds that could pose a choking hazard to small children.

Allergènes de contact

The milky latex sap may cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals.

Allergènes aéroportés

The small flowers produce pollen that may trigger mild respiratory symptoms in sensitive people.

Comestibilité

The fruit is edible when fully ripe, but the milky sap in unripe fruit is sticky and unpleasant.

Comment l'identifier

• Glossy dark green leaves
• Golden or purple leaf undersides
• Star pattern inside fruit
• Small white or purple flowers

Hauteur

8 à 20m

Envergure

4 à 10m

Feuilles

dark green, golden brown, evergreen

Fleurs

white, purple, 0,5 à 1cm

Fruits

purple, green, Late winter to spring

Problèmes courants

• Scale insects — Small sap-sucking insects that cluster on stems and leaves.
• Root rot — Fungal infection caused by overly wet or poorly drained soil.

La cultiver

Multiplication

seed, cuttings, air layering

Quand planter

spring, summer

Plant this tree as a central canopy element to provide shade for smaller, understory tropical crops.

Bonnes associations

• Caféier — It provides excellent dappled shade for coffee plants.
• Banane naine — They share similar moisture and soil requirements in a tropical garden.

Espèces similaires

• Manilkara zapota — Another tropical fruit tree with similar growth habits and requirements.

Science

Famille

Sapotaceae

Genre

Chrysophyllum

Ordre

Ericales

Classe

Magnoliopsida

Région d'origine

Tropical regions of Central America and the Caribbean.

Préservation

Not currently of conservation concern in its native range.

It grows in tropical rainforests where it utilizes its dense canopy to compete for light.

Intérêt pour la faune

nectar source, provides shelter

Pollinisateurs

abeilles, papillons

Utilisations

ornamental shade tree, edible fruit, traditional medicine

Taxonomie vérifiée avec le GBIF.

Ce qu'on demande souvent

Does it need full sun?

Yes, it grows best in full sun but tolerates light shade.

How long until it fruits?

Trees grown from seed can take 5 to 10 years to bear fruit.

D'où vient le nom

Chrysophyllum comes from the Greek words for gold and leaf, referring to the golden underside of the foliage. Cainito is the common name used in many Spanish-speaking regions.

Bon à savoir

• It is commonly called the star apple because the seeds inside form a star pattern when cut crosswise.
• The tree is highly valued for its dense, glossy foliage.
• It thrives in tropical climates with consistent moisture.
• The fruit pulp is sweet and often eaten fresh or in desserts.