Life Span
Perennial
Annual and Perennial
Type
Aquatics
Fruit
Origin
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Canada
Mexico, Central America
Types
-
Male Papaya Tree, Female Papaya Tree, hermaphrodite Tree
Number of Varieties
120
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Moist Soils, Terrestrial, Upland, Wet lands
tropical environments, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
3-1110-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
11-1
12-10
Sunset Zone
21,22
H1, H2, 21, 23, 24
Habit
Thicket/Colonizing
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.00 cm457.20 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm7.62 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White
Ivory
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brownish Red
Green, Orange, Light Yellow
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
Irregular
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam
Loam, Sand, Well drained
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
From Rhizomes, Root Division
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Needs Very high moisture
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
Loam
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, 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
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
14-14-14 Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
bees
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
Medium
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flies
Ants, Bees, Hummingbirds
Allergy
allergic reaction, Pollen
Asthma, breathing problems, Itchiness, Itchy eyes, Red eyes, Runny nose, sneezing, Sore eyes, Swelling, Watery eyes, wheezing
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Bog Garden, Showy Purposes, Water gardening, Wild gardens
-
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
Insect Bites, Treating fever
Asthma, Bone strength, Cancer, Diabetes, Digestion problems, Heart problems, Inflammation, Skin Disorders
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves, Root
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Grown in botanical gardens as a specimen, 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
Container, Water Gardens, Wildflower
Container, Edible, Feature Plant, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Tropical
Botanical Name
SAURURUS cernuus
CARICA papaya
Common Name
Lizard's Tail
Papaya
In Hindi
Saururus cernuus
पपीता
In German
Saururus cernuus
Papaya
In French
Saururus cernuus
Papaye
In Spanish
cernuus Saururus
Papaya
In Greek
Saururus cernuus
Παπάγια
In Portuguese
Saururus cernuus
Mamão
In Polish
Saururus cernuus
Papaja
In Latin
Saururi cernuus
Papaya
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Piperales
Brassicales
Family
Saururaceae
Caricaceae
Genus
Saururus
Carica
Clade
Angiosperms, Magnoliids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
130
1
27800
👆🏻