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Mountain papaya

Carica pubescens
Edible value7Medicinal value3Other uses1
Tree6×4.5 mzone 9–13full shade🍎 Edible

Will it grow where I live?

Mountain papaya is not winter-hardy in Central Europe (zone 9): outdoors from spring to autumn only, otherwise a container plant overwintered frost-free. The summer heat it needs to ripen is out of reach outdoors in Central Europe – greenhouse or conservatory.

Or check it for your location right here:

Winter hardiness by USDA zone, summer warmth by heat sum – the same values the app and the plant finder use.

Profile

Family
Caricaceae
Habit
Tree
Height
6 m
Spread
4.5 m
Growth
medium
Lifespan
15 years
First yield
after 2 years
Hardiness
zone 9–13
Shade tolerance
full shade
Soil
Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay
Soil moisture
semi-dry – very moist
pH
5.5 – 7
evergreen

Uses

Edible7 of 10
Medicinal3 of 10
Other uses1 of 10

Frequently asked questions

Mountain papaya: how big does it get?

Mountain papaya (Carica pubescens) grows as a Tree and reaches roughly 6 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 4.5 m. Growth is medium.

Mountain papaya: what site does it need?

Mountain papaya tolerates full shade. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay. Soil moisture should be in the range semi-dry – very moist. The pH may lie between 5.5 and 7.

Mountain papaya: is it hardy?

Mountain papaya is listed as hardy in zone 9–13 and survives normal winters outdoors there.

Mountain papaya: will it grow in Central Europe?

Mountain papaya is not winter-hardy in Central Europe (zone 9): outdoors from spring to autumn only, otherwise a container plant overwintered frost-free. The summer heat it needs to ripen is out of reach outdoors in Central Europe – greenhouse or conservatory.

Mountain papaya: is it poisonous?

No toxicity is recorded for Mountain papaya. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone — only on a confident identification.

Mountain papaya: what is it used for?

Rated on a scale up to 10: Edible 7/10, Medicinal 3/10, Other uses 1/10.

Community experience

No first-hand reports for this plant yet.

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All data without warranty. Site data and texts from the Permaplans database.

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