FRUIT TREE CROPS
Tropical fruit tree crops are extremely important because they provide a reliable source of food. Once established, these trees can bear fruit even when environmental conditions fluctuate. Tropical fruit trees are variable in many relevant characteristics, including method of propagation, growth habit, use of the fruit, nutritional value, and adaptation. While seldom used as staple foods, their perennial nature and nutritional contribution (frequently vitamin C and sometimes vitamin A) are of great importance. Most fruits contain carbohydrates, frequently in the form of sugars, and often as starch. Fruit crops are a welcomed and useful addition to any small farm because they require relatively little input and produce wherever they are adapted.
Due to cross-pollination, seeds of the fruit trees listed below may result in trees with extremely variable traits. When the trees you plant from seed bear fruit, you may select superior individuals for vegetative propagation such as grafting or air layering. Most fruit tree seed is viable for only a short period of time and, therefore, is not always in stock; we will put you on a waiting list and send seed in season.
Seeds are available to members of our network.
To find out how to request seeds, click here.
Atemoya |
Black Sapote |
Canistel |
Chinese Date |
Guava |
Guinea Peanut |
Jackfruit |
Jujube |
Loquat |
Naranjilla |
Papaya |
Passionfruit |
Soursop |
Starfruit |
Strawberry Tree |
Sugar Apple |
Surinam Cherry |
Tamarind
Annona cherimola X Annona squamosa Elevation: 0-2000m
Atemoya MS, LL
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Grows well in tropical and subtropical lowlands; grafting very common (seedlings variable); germination takes about 4 weeks; fast-growing tree, not tolerant of water-logging; delicious sweet fruit similar in flavor to cherimoya; seed contains toxic insecticidal substances. pH: 5.5-6.5.
Annona squamosa Elevation: 0-1000m
Sugar Apple, Sweetsop MS, LL
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Most widely grown Annona; sweet, flavorful dessert fruit can be used in ice cream and milk shakes; drought-tolerant; seed contain toxic, insecticidal substances. Red and Green varieties refer to the color of fruit. There is a slight difference in taste, but no difference in texture. Sugar apple is grainier in texture then Atemoya. pH: 5.5-6.5.
Annona muricata Elevation: 250-350m (best), 0-1200m
Soursop/Guanabana MS,H
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Soursop produces large fruits on its trunk and branches. The fruit is often used as a drink by mixing the juice with milk or water and sugar. Less acid varieties are eaten fresh. Production starts in three to five years in a seedling tree and occurs year-round. The tree is bushy, but has an upright growth habit and can reach 12-30 ft. A few degrees below freezing can kill the tree and near freezing temperatures defoliate it temporarily. pH: 5.5-6.5
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Artocarpus heterophyllus Elevation: 0-1700m
Jackfruit MS, LL, RF
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Reputation for world's largest tree fruit. Heavy bearer. Large edible portion with high nutritional value. Edible, delicious seeds. Well-adapted to wet tropical conditions. Recommended minimum 50" annual rainfall. Fruits can also be eaten green as a vegetable. Highly recommended.
pH: 5.5-7.5.
Averrhoa carambola Elevation: 0-1200m
Carambola/Starfruit MS, LL, RF, H
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Very productive tree with wide appeal; Grown best in wind-protected areas with adequate yr. round soil moisture. Tolerates some extended dry season. Excellent dooryard tree due to extremely high productivity and nutrition; small to medium stature tree; and lengthy, often multiple fruiting seasons. Delicious, crisp, juicy flesh eaten fresh, juiced, canned, or dried; seed produces fruit with highly variable quality. Highly recommended. pH: 5.5-6.5
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Carica papaya Elevation: 0-2100m
Papaya MS, LL, RF
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Papayas are best adapted to the humid tropics. Though requiring plentiful rainfall, well-drained soil is important as papaya is sensitive to short periods of flooding. Trees can have male, female, or bisexual flowers. To avoid sending out seeds resulting in unproductive male trees, ECHO purchases ,from professional seed producers, seeds of varieties known to produce female or bisexual trees with the majority of trees being bisexual. Female trees can be pollinated by a bisexual tree. Protect papyaya trees from freeze and heavy frost. Soil pH: 5.5-7.0.
Non-hybrid, self-pollinating solo varieties
Insect activity results in cross-pollination between varieties. If saving seed, grow only one variety at any one time. “Solo” papaya fruits are usually small enough to be eaten by one person at one sitting.
Sunrise: The fruit is reddish pink in color, sweet with a mild flavor. Average fruit size is 567 grams (1.2 lb). Fruit is generally pear shaped, with a small neck at the stem end. Image
Sunset: Sweet, red flesh. This cultivar comes from the same genetic parents as Sunrise. It was originally developed for the smaller sized fruits- average weight of 454 grams (1 lb). The fruit is reddish pink in color, sweet with a mild flavor. Produces fewer fruits than Sunrise. Image
Waimanalo: Custard-like texture, sweet, yellow flesh. The fruit is orange in color, sweet with a distinctive papaya flavor. Fruits vary in size with an average of 680 grams (1.5 lb). A very high yielding variety, with strong disease and insect resistance. Image
Hybrid varieties from Taiwan
Trees of these varieties generally produce larger fruits and are more vigorous and resistant to papaya ring spot virus than the solo types. Seeds saved may not produce trees like the parents.
Known-You No. 1 (hybrid): Very large fruits [1.6-3 kg (3.5-6.6 lb)], initially compact plant, yellow flesh. (NOTE: not available until at least 2009) Image
Red Lady (hybrid): Compact, almost dwarf plant with firm, delicious red flesh. Fruit size is 1.5-2 kg (3.3- 4.4 lb). Image
Tainung No. 1 (hybrid): Commercial variety, taller and more productive than ‘Red Lady’ with 1.1 kg (2.4 lb) fruits that are delicious but not quite as sweet as 'Red Lady'. Image
Diospyros digyna Elevation: 0-2000m
Black Sapote, Black Persimmon MS, LL, RF, H
Tolerates rainfall from 30" to 160". Can be grown up to 5000+ ft in frost free areas. Tolerates wide range of soils (clay,sand,limestone). Flesh has texture and color similar to whipped chocolate pudding; sweet, mild flavor. Set hard green fruit on counter top until it becomes very soft before eating. pH: 6-7.
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Eriobotrya japonica Elevation: 1000-3300m (do best)
Loquat MS, LL, RF, H, T
Tolerates mild freezing weather, suitable for subtropical and high altitudes. Tolerates wide range of altitudes. The fruit has a fuzzy peel that can be eaten or removed; eaten fresh, in pastries, or in jam; seed viable for eight days only; available February through April. Can grow in more temperate areas, but doesn't produce fruit. Used as an ornamental. pH: 5.5-6.5.
Eugenia uniflora Elevation: 0-1800m
Surinam Cherry SA, MS, LL, RF, H
Tasty fruit is high in vitamin A; quality is variable, some fruits have an unpleasant aftertaste; makes an attractive hedge; cold-tolerant. An advantage of this fruit shrub is it can grow in poor soil and also has a wide temperature adaptation. pH: 6-7.5.
Muntingia calabura Elevation: 0-1000m, (1300m reported in Colombia)
Strawberry Tree MS, LL, RF, H
Image: Leaves/Fruit | Seed
Extremely fast growing tree, easily 10'+ in a year when young. Bears small 1 cm. diameter red berries that fruit nearly all year. Good fruit for children. Widely adaptable tree tolerating very dry, poor soil conditions. Excellent firewood. May be greater interest as a fuelwood species than fruit crop. pH: 5.5-6.5.
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Passiflora edulis Elevation: 0-1300m
Passionfruit MS, LL, RF, H
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Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa, 'Yellow': Produces fruit with great juice yield; hand-pollination from a different vine required if pollinator not present; tropical and thus much less tolerant of frost than purple variety. Soil pH: 6.0-8.0.
‘Purple Possum': This variety has purple fruit. This variety germinates poorly, therefore cuttings work best. If you visit ECHO's farm you are welcome to take cuttings with you, but we don't send them overseas. Passion fruit cuttings are not hardy and would not survive shipping. No seeds available for ‘Purple Possum' variety. Soil pH: 5.5-7.5.
Pisidium cattleianum Elevation: 0-1500m
Cattley Guava MS, LL
Also known as the strawberry guava because of its strawberry-like flavor; fruit may be red or yellow. This species can become invasive if not properly maintained. Soil pH: 5.5-6.5.
Pisidium guajava Elevation: 0-2000m
Guava MS, LL
Edible fruit is eaten raw or made into jelly; seed is a source of edible oil. Rapid growing trees producing fruit in 2-4 years from seed. It can reach a height of 12m (40 ft). Guavas are tolerant of flooding, drought, salt, and alkalinity, and poor soils. Yield best in areas that receive 40-80 inches of rainfall (16-32cm). Soil pH: 5.5-7.5.
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Pouteria campechiana Elevation: 0-1400m
Canistel SA, MS, LL
This tree is erect and reaches heights no more than 25 ft (8m) tall. The fruit is ripe when it turns yellow. The texture of the fruit has been compared to a hard boiled egg yolk and the flavor is sweet, similar to a sweet potato. Its origin is northern South America. It requires a tropical or subtropical climate that performs well in areas with long dry seasons. However moderate moisture is needed at time of fruiting. It can be grown in soils considered to thin or poor for most fruit trees. Seeds have a short viability and can sprout within 2 weeks if planted immediately with the outer hard seed coat removed.
Solanum quitoense Elevation: 0-2400m
Naranjilla MS, LL
A thorny perennial plant that can reach eight feet in height, producing yellowish-orange fruits in a similar fashion to tomatoes. The berries have a subacid flavor and are used to make juices, jams, jellies, flavoring for ice cream or sherbet. Naranjilla prefers short days within a long growing season, cool, moist growing conditions, and well-drained, fertile soils. It is susceptible to root knot nematodes. This fruit grows on the ECHO farm which has a very low elevation (3-4m), but it prefers higher elevations. Naranjilla cannot tolerate frost or temperatures above 85˚F. Soil pH: 6.5-7.0.
Tamarindus indica Elevation: 0-1500m
Tamarind SA, MS, LL
This is a leguminous tree (height: 25m/80ft) that is best adapted to semi-arid conditions. Tamarind pulp taken from the pods is used often in Indian cooking and can be made into a tasty drink. Young trees are suseptible to frost but mature trees can withstand -3 degree Celsius (28 degrees F). Soil pH: 5.5-6.5.
Ziziphus jujuba Elevation: 0-1800m
Chinese Date SA, MS
Deciduous, cold hardy tree. Grows up to 15m tall. Prefers sandy, well-drained soils. Fruits may be eaten green or mature, but will not ripen if picked green. Prolific bearer; thorny. The thorny branches can be utilized to be part of a living fence.
Ziziphus mauritiana Elevation: 0-1800m
Indian Jujube SA, MS
Prolific bearer; thorny; cold, drought- and flood-tolerant. Leaves excellent forage. In semi-arid regions it is an excellent tree for erosion control, shade, shelter, windbreak, and reclamation of nutrient-depleted soil. The thorny branches can be utilized to be part of a living fence. Can grow to be 15m. Fruits are popular where the tree grows naturally. The fruit has an apple-like (crisp) texture.
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