Caimito Live Plant – Star Apple Tree – 2 to 3 Feet Tall – Ships in 3 Gallon Pot

Overview

Cultivate your own exotic fruit with this vibrant caimito live plant. Also known as the star apple tree, the Caimito (Botanical Name: Chrysophyllum cainito) is a stunning addition to any garden or landscape, celebrated for both its delicious fruit and ornamental beauty. Originating from the West Indies, this tropical tree thrives in warm climates, producing unique fruit with a mild grape-like flavor. The Caimito is not just a fruit producer; its striking foliage features glossy, dark green leaves with an elegant, silky bronze underside, making it a beautiful shade tree. This particular plant is 2 to 3 feet tall and arrives ready to plant in a 3-gallon pot, providing a head start for growing your own tropical bounty. Enjoy the allure of a caimito live plant in your outdoor space.

Key Benefits

The caimito live plant offers a multitude of benefits, from its aesthetic appeal to its delectable fruit. Adding this tropical gem to your collection can enhance your garden’s biodiversity and provide a unique culinary experience. It’s an excellent choice for those looking to cultivate exotic fruits and enjoy the beauty of a shade-providing tree. This star apple tree is a true conversation starter and a rewarding plant to grow.

• Exotic Fruit Production: Enjoy the unique and delicious Caimito fruit, known for its mild grape-like flavor, perfect for fresh consumption. Growing your own ensures the freshest taste and quality.
• Stunning Ornamental Value: The tree boasts beautiful glossy, dark green leaves with an attractive silky bronze underside, making it a visually appealing shade tree. It adds a touch of tropical elegance to any landscape.
• Shade Provider: With an average height and width of 25 feet, the Caimito grows into a substantial tree, offering ample shade during warmer months, creating a comfortable outdoor living space.
• Tropical Appeal: Ideal for creating a tropical ambiance in your garden, this tree brings a piece of the Caribbean and Central America to your home. It’s a favorite in many tropical regions.
• Relatively Low Maintenance: Once established, the chrysophyllum cainito requires moderate care, making it a rewarding plant for both experienced gardeners and enthusiastic beginners.
• Variety of Fruit Colors: Depending on the variety, the fruit comes in beautiful purple or green hues, adding visual interest and diversity to your harvest.
• Freshness Guaranteed: Harvesting fruit directly from your own tropical fruit tree ensures peak freshness and flavor, far surpassing store-bought options.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your caimito live plant involves understanding its tropical origins to provide the best growing conditions. This plant thrives in warm, humid environments and requires consistent attention, especially during its establishment phase. Proper care will ensure a healthy, fruit-bearing star apple tree that will be a prized possession in your garden.

For optimal growth, the Caimito prefers full sun exposure, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. It can tolerate partial shade, but fruit production may be reduced. The plant requires consistently moist soil, especially when young, but good drainage is crucial to prevent root rot. Water deeply two to three times a week during dry periods, reducing frequency in cooler, wetter weather. A well-draining, rich, loamy soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0-7.0) is ideal. Fertilize your caimito live plant with a balanced slow-release fertilizer designed for fruit trees three to four times a year, particularly during the growing season. Protect the tree from temperatures below 30°F, as it is susceptible to damage at these temperatures. For colder regions, consider growing it in a large container that can be moved indoors during winter.

Size & Details

This offering is for one caimito live plant, which measures approximately 2 to 3 feet tall upon delivery. It is shipped in a sturdy 3-gallon pot, providing a healthy root system ready for transplanting. Caimito trees are known for their moderate to fast growth rate, eventually reaching an average height and width of 25 feet, forming a dense, rounded canopy perfect for providing ample shade. The fruit season typically runs from February to May, depending on the climate and specific growing conditions. With proper care, your chrysophyllum cainito will establish quickly and begin producing its distinctive fruit.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this caimito live plant get? A: This caimito live plant is currently 2 to 3 feet tall. With proper care, it can grow into a large shade tree, reaching an average height and width of 25 feet.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: The star apple tree is shipped in a 3-gallon nursery pot, providing a good head start for transplanting into your garden or a larger container.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Caimito is primarily an outdoor tropical fruit tree that thrives in warm climates. In regions with frost, it can be grown in a large pot and moved indoors during colder months.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: A caimito live plant requires full sun exposure, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily, for optimal growth and fruit production.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: While tropical, the caimito care is considered moderate. It requires consistent watering, proper sunlight, and protection from cold temperatures, but is generally not overly demanding once established.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your tropical fruit tree will arrive as a healthy, live plant, carefully packaged in its 3-gallon pot to ensure safe transit and minimal stress.
• Q: When is the best time to plant a caimito? A: The best time to plant a Caimito is during the warmer months, typically in spring or early summer, to allow it to establish before cooler weather sets in.
• Q: What is the damage temperature for this plant? A: The Caimito is susceptible to damage when temperatures drop between 28-30°F, so protection is essential in colder climates.
• Q: Can I grow the caimito in a container? A: Yes, you can grow a star apple tree in a large container, especially beneficial if you live in a region that experiences frost, allowing you to move it indoors.
• Q: What varieties of Caimito are available? A: The Caimito typically comes in varieties producing either purple or green fruit. This particular listing is for a general caimito live plant, and the specific variety may vary.