Life Span
Perennial
Annual and Perennial
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen
Fruit
Origin
California
Mexico, Central America
Types
Heteromeles arbutifolia
Male Papaya Tree, Female Papaya Tree, hermaphrodite Tree
Number of Varieties
320
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Foot Hills, low mountains, Woodlands
tropical environments, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-1010-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
12-10
Sunset Zone
21,22
H1, H2, 21, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
180.00 cm457.20 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
120.00 cm7.62 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White
Ivory
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Red, Orange 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
Dark Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Elliptic
Irregular
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand, Well drained
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Does not require water in summer, Requires watering in the growing season
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, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
-
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, Solid Fertilizers
14-14-14 Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Bacterial Diseases, Root Pathogen
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
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Ants, Bees, Hummingbirds
Allergy
Acidic
Asthma, breathing problems, Itchiness, Itchy eyes, Red eyes, Runny nose, sneezing, Sore eyes, Swelling, Watery eyes, wheezing
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification
-
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin, Good for skin and hair, Improve hair condition, Making cosmetics
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Erosion control
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Body Ache, Stomach pain
Asthma, Bone strength, Cancer, Diabetes, Digestion problems, Heart problems, Inflammation, Skin Disorders
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Sauces
Cosmetics, Making Shampoo, Used As Food, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Mixed Border, Screening, Wind Break, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier
Container, Edible, Feature Plant, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Tropical
Botanical Name
HETEROMELES arbutifolia
CARICA papaya
Common Name
Christmas Berry, California Holly
Papaya
In Hindi
Toyon
पपीता
In German
Toyon
Papaya
In French
Toyon
Papaye
In Spanish
Toyon
Papaya
In Greek
Toyon
Παπάγια
In Portuguese
Toyon
Mamão
In Polish
Toyon
Papaja
In Latin
Toyon
Papaya
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Rosales
Brassicales
Family
Rosaceae
Caricaceae
Genus
Heteromeles
Carica
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Maleae
-
Subfamily
Amygdaloideae
-
Number of Species
630
1
27800
👆🏻