Life Span
Perennial
Annual and Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Fruit
Origin
Southeastern United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
Mexico, Central America
Types
-
Male Papaya Tree, Female Papaya Tree, hermaphrodite Tree
Number of Varieties
-20
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
tropical environments, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-1110-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
12-10
Sunset Zone
-
H1, H2, 21, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
45.70 cm457.20 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm7.62 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
-
Ivory
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Green, Orange, Light Yellow
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
-
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Narrowly elliptic
Irregular
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Sand
Loam, Sand, Well drained
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
-
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
By dividing rhizomes, tubers, Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Do not water frequently, Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove shoots, Remove short branches, Remove short twigs, Requires little pruning
Fertilizers
N-P-K balanced liquid fertilizer
14-14-14 Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
-
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
-
Bold
Foliage Sheen
-
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Butterflies
Ants, Bees, Hummingbirds
Allergy
-
Asthma, breathing problems, Itchiness, Itchy eyes, Red eyes, Runny nose, sneezing, Sore eyes, Swelling, Watery eyes, wheezing
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Borders, Ground Cover
-
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin, Good for skin and hair, Improve hair condition, Making cosmetics
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Cures poisoning from fish
Asthma, Bone strength, Cancer, Diabetes, Digestion problems, Heart problems, Inflammation, Skin Disorders
Part of Plant Used
Bulbs
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
Cosmetics, Making Shampoo, Used As Food, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Cutflower, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical, Wildflower
Container, Edible, Feature Plant, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Tropical
Botanical Name
BLETIA purpurea
CARICA papaya
Common Name
Candelaria, Pinepink, Purple Bletia Orchid, Sharp-petaled Bletia Orchid
Papaya
In Hindi
Candelaria
पपीता
In German
Candelaria
Papaya
In French
Candelaria
Papaye
In Spanish
Candelaria
Papaya
In Greek
Candelaria
Παπάγια
In Portuguese
Candelaria
Mamão
In Polish
Candelaria
Papaja
In Latin
Candelaria
Papaya
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Orchidales
Brassicales
Family
Orchidaceae
Caricaceae
Genus
Bletia
Carica
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Arethuseae
-
Subfamily
Epidendroideae
-
Number of Species
-30
1
27800
👆🏻