Jan–MarApr–JunJul–SepOct–Dec
Planting
Days to maturity
Seasonal yields
Sow indoors · Direct sow · Transplant outdoors
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Plant · P-500
Starfruit
Averrhoa carambola
Starfruit is a small evergreen tree whose ribbed, waxy yellow fruit cuts into star-shaped slices - eaten raw or pickled, or turned into juice, jelly and jam, along with edible flowers and leaves that work as a sorrel substitute. It needs a second tree nearby for pollination, since it isn't self-fertile and depends on bees, flies and butterflies to set fruit, but it rewards patience quickly: layered plants can fruit within ten months and grafted stock in one to two years. Anyone with impaired kidney function or on dialysis should avoid eating it - the fruit carries soluble oxalates and a neurotoxin, caramboxin, that is dangerous in that condition.
Record at a glance
Growing profile
- Sun
- Full Sun
- USDA zone
- USDA 10–12
- Soil
- Sand · Loam · Clay
- Moisture
- Well-Drained · Moist
Vertical layer
Canopy- Soil pH
- 4.5–7
- Plant type
- Evergreen Tree
- Mature height
- 20–30 ft
- Mature spread
- 20–30 ft
- Plant spacing
- 20 ft
- Root type
- Tap
- Spread pattern
- None
Keep exploring
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Amla
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Argan
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Arjuna
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The deeper layer
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- Primary
- Locked ecological function
- Secondary
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- Byproduct
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Behind the record
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