Life Span
Annual and Perennial
Perennial
Type
Fruit
Grass
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Northeastern United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Mexico, Caribbean
Types
Male Papaya Tree, Female Papaya Tree, hermaphrodite Tree
Lindheimer's muhly
Number of Varieties
2025
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
tropical environments, Tropical regions
Prairies, Roadsides, Warmer regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-154-10
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
12 - 3
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 21, 23, 24
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
457.20 cm60.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
7.62 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Ivory
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Orange, Light Yellow
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green, Dark Green, Brown
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Tan, Brown
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Grass like
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand, Well drained
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Divison, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Do not water frequently, Requires watering in the growing season
Water frequently while growing, Water more frequently during periods of extreme drought
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, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove shoots, Remove short branches, Remove short twigs, Requires little pruning
Prune when plant is dormant, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
14-14-14 Fertilizer
No fertilizers needed
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Aphids, Ladybug
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
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ants, Bees, Hummingbirds
Ladybug beetles
Allergy
Asthma, breathing problems, Itchiness, Itchy eyes, Red eyes, Runny nose, sneezing, Sore eyes, Swelling, Watery eyes, wheezing
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Good for skin and hair, Improve hair condition, Making cosmetics
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Shelter for wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Bone strength, Cancer, Diabetes, Digestion problems, Heart problems, Inflammation, Skin Disorders
-
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Seeds
Whole plant
Other Uses
Cosmetics, Making Shampoo, Used As Food, Used for its medicinal properties
Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Feature Plant, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Tropical
Dried Flower / Everlasting, Container, Edging, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Botanical Name
CARICA papaya
MUHLENBERGIA capillaris
Common Name
Papaya
Pink Muhly Grass
In Hindi
पपीता
Muhly Grass
In German
Papaya
hairawn muhly
In French
Papaye
muhly herbe
In Spanish
Papaya
muhly Grass
In Greek
Παπάγια
Muhly Grass
In Portuguese
Mamão
muhly grama
In Polish
Papaja
Muhly Trawa
In Latin
Papaya
Muhly Grass
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Brassicales
Cyperales
Family
Caricaceae
Poaceae
Genus
Carica
Muhlenbergia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
3040
1
27800
👆🏻