Lucuma.

Auf einen Blick

Pflegestufe

Mittel

Pflanzenart

Fruit tree

Licht

Full sun

Licht im Innenraum

Direkte Sonne

Gießen

Alle 5 bis 10 Tage

Endgröße

15 meters

Wachstum

Mittel

Winterhärte

USDA 9 bis 11

Blütezeit

Late spring to early summer

Pflege

Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged to ensure healthy fruit production. Watch for yellowing leaves which may indicate poor drainage or nutrient deficiency. Provide plenty of sunshine to support its natural tropical growth habits.

Gießen

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

Düngen

Apply a balanced fertilizer during the active growing season.

Schneiden

Prune lightly once a year to maintain shape and encourage airflow.

Umtopfen

Repot only when the tree shows signs of being root bound.

Boden

Well draining sandy loam

Boden-pH

6.0 to 7.0

Temperatur

5 bis 35°C

Luftfeuchtigkeit

50 bis 80%

Trockenheitstoleranz

Mittel

Lebensdauer

Perennial, can live for several decades.

Wildverbiss-Resistenz

Mittel

Sicherheit

Menschen

The plant is not considered toxic, but the seeds contain saponins that should not be ingested.

Kinder

The large, hard seeds pose a choking hazard if left within reach of small children.

Kontaktallergene

The milky latex sap can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Allergene in der Luft

There are no notable respiratory allergens associated with this tree.

Essbarkeit

The fruit must be fully ripe to be palatable, as unripe fruit is highly astringent and dry.

So erkennst du die Pflanze

• Glossy dark green leaves
• Oval shaped fruit with dry flesh
• Brown skin with yellow pulp
• Small greenish white flowers

Höhe

8 bis 15m

Breite

4 bis 8m

Blätter

dark green, glossy, evergreen

Blüten

greenish yellow, 1 bis 2cm

Früchte

green, brown, yellow orange, Autumn to winter

Häufige Probleme

• Fruit fly — Larvae can infest ripening fruit, causing premature drop.
• Root rot — Occurs in poorly drained soils with excessive moisture.

Standort und Pflege

Vermehrung

seed, grafting

Pflanzzeit

Spring

Überwinterung

Protect young trees from frost with burlap or frost cloth. Ensure the soil does not remain waterlogged during cooler months.

Im Kübel

It is not well suited for long term container growth due to its eventual size and deep root system.

Planting in a mixed orchard setting helps manage humidity levels and provides necessary shade for young saplings.

Gute Pflanzpartner

• Kaffeepflanze — They share similar requirements for partial shade and well drained soil in tropical highlands.
• Avocado — Both trees benefit from similar soil conditions and can provide mutual wind protection.

Ähnliche Arten

• Pouteria campechiana — It is a close relative with similar fruit texture and growth habits.
• Pouteria sapota — Another member of the Sapotaceae family that shares similar cultural requirements.

Botanisches

Familie

Sapotaceae

Gattung

Pouteria

Ordnung

Ericales

Klasse

Magnoliopsida

Ursprüngliche Heimat

Andean valleys of Peru, Chile, and Ecuador.

Artenschutz

It is widely cultivated in its native range and is not currently considered threatened.

It thrives in high altitude, temperate mountain valleys with consistent moisture and well drained soil.

Nutzen für Wildtiere

nectar source

Bestäuber

Bienen

Verwendung

culinary fruit, dessert flavoring, ornamental tree

Taxonomie abgeglichen mit GBIF.

Häufige Fragen

Can I grow lucuma in a pot?

It is difficult due to the tree's large size, but young specimens can be kept in very large containers for a few years.

How do I know when the fruit is ripe?

The fruit is ready when it softens slightly and the skin turns a dull, brownish green.

Woher der Name kommt

The name Pouteria comes from the Guiana name for a related species, while lucuma is derived from the Quechua name for the fruit.

Gut zu wissen

• Lucuma powder is a popular natural sweetener in health foods.
• The fruit has a unique texture often described as dry and mealy like a hard boiled egg yolk.
• It is a staple ingredient in Peruvian ice cream.
• The tree is slow growing and can take years to produce its first fruit.