Life Span
Annual and Perennial
Perennial
Type
Fruit
Tree
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas
Types
Male Papaya Tree, Female Papaya Tree, hermaphrodite Tree
Maclura pomifera
Number of Varieties
201
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
tropical environments, Tropical regions
Grassland, Hillside, Humid climates, Roadsides, Woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-154-10
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
10-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 21, 23, 24
2a, 2b, 3a, 10, 11, 12, 13
Habit
Upright/Erect
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
457.20 cm760.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
7.62 cm1,219.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Ivory
Yellow green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Orange, Light Yellow
Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Yellow, Green, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
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
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Spring, Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Do not water frequently, Requires watering in the growing season
Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering, Water Deeply, Water when soil is dry
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
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
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
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
14-14-14 Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
Flower Petal Number
Single
-
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ants, Bees, Hummingbirds
-
Allergy
Asthma, breathing problems, Itchiness, Itchy eyes, Red eyes, Runny nose, sneezing, Sore eyes, Swelling, Watery eyes, wheezing
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
-
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
Asthma, Bone strength, Cancer, Diabetes, Digestion problems, Heart problems, Inflammation, Skin Disorders
Cancer, Tooth ache, Urinary tract problems
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Seeds
Bark, Flowers, Fruits
Other Uses
Cosmetics, Making Shampoo, Used As Food, Used for its medicinal properties
Used as an insecticide, Wood log is used in making fences
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Feature Plant, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Tropical
Mixed Border, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
CARICA papaya
MACLURA pomifera
Common Name
Papaya
Bois d’arc, Hedge Apple, Osage Orange
In Hindi
पपीता
ओसेज संतरे
In German
Papaya
Osage Orange
In French
Papaye
Osage orange
In Spanish
Papaya
Osage naranja
In Greek
Παπάγια
Osage Πορτοκαλί
In Portuguese
Mamão
Osage laranja
In Polish
Papaja
Osage Pomarańczowy
In Latin
Papaya
Aliquam Osage
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Brassicales
Rosales
Family
Caricaceae
Moraceae
Genus
Carica
Maclura
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Moreae
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
301
1
27800
👆🏻