Appearance

Growth form

The soft, usually unbranched trunk can reach about 10–33 ft (3–10 m), depending on growing conditions.

Leaves

Large leaves spread from the top of the trunk and are deeply divided into broad lobes.

Flowers

Male flowers hang in long clusters; female flowers sit close to the trunk. Some plants carry flowers with both male and female parts.

Flowering time

In South Florida, plants may flower year-round.

Fruit

Smooth fruit ripens from green to yellow or orange. A hollow center holds many small black seeds.

Look-alikes

Where it lives

Typical habitats

• Home gardens
• Farms
• Disturbed warm sites

Range

Native to tropical America, papaya is grown in warm parts of Florida and Hawaii. In South Florida it can also grow outside cultivation.

Preferred conditions

Papaya grows best in warmth and full sun. Freezing temperatures can damage or kill it.

Flowering

Flowers Jan–Dec

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Flowers

Flowers Jan–Dec

Life cycle

Reproduction

Plants may be male, female, or have flowers with both male and female parts.

Growing it

Care

Florida gardeners grow papaya for its fruit, but cold and strong wind can damage the plants.

Connected species

Pollinators

• honey beesApis

  Honey bees are among the insects that can carry pollen between papaya flowers in Florida.

Name and classification

Varieties and forms

Hawaiian Solo cultivars may bear round fruit on female plants and pear-shaped fruit on plants with flowers that have both male and female parts.

Conservation

IUCN Red List

DDData Deficient·Not enough data yet to assess