Carica papaya (F)

RHS Plant Profile
pawpaw

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Carica papaya (F)?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
pawpaw RHS
pawpaw RHS

Other common names

melon tree, papaya, tree melon

Award of Garden Merit
Conservatory Greenhouse Fruit Edible Trees Herbaceous Perennial
Buy this from Plant Nurseries
4 Suppliers

A tree-like, evergreen,herbaceous plant that can reach 6m in tropical conditions. The single, upright stem is topped with a palm-like spread of large, long stemmed, deeply divided leaves. Cream, scented flowers, which may be male, female or hermaphrodite, develop at any time of year directly from the trunk, followed by large, edible, melon-like fruits initially green, ripening to yellow or orange

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

2.5-4 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1–2 years
Max Spread
2.5-4 metres
Max Height
2.5-4 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H1B

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower Fruit
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Caricaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Columnar upright
Genus
Name Status
Correct
Horticultural Group

Horticultural Classification Codes

Horticultural Classification Codes are often given to genera which have a large number of species or cultivars. They are used to categorise cultivated plants based on specific, shared characteristics such as shape, colour, size or flowering time, and can be displayed as letters or numbers

For example:
Dahlia ‘Sunset Kate (Sin) = Single flower
Rosa ‘Marigold’ (HT) = Hybrid Tea

This genus produces fruit, but not necessarily edible fruit
Plant Range
S America

How to Grow

Cultivation

Plants require deep, humus-rich soil and sub-tropical conditions to fruit. Can also be grown as bedding or container plants for foliage effect in summer, with well-drained soil, full sun and a sheltered position

Propagation

Propagate by seed - plants can fruit within a year in suitable conditions and need replacing every few years

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Patio and container plants
  • Sub-tropical
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, glasshouse thrips and glasshouse whitefly

Diseases

Susceptible to root rots