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This deciduous tree is a native of Ceylon and the Moluccas and it is grown commercially in the warm areas of Florida and California. However it can be grown in the gardens of zones 8 to 11. If you live in zones 8 and 9 you may need to provide it with some shelter in the winter.
It is a medium to fast growing tree growing upwards of 20 to 30 feet and though it is not too particular of the type of soil you plant it in the star fruit tree will grow faster and bear more fruit if you plant it in rich loam. It also needs good drainage and will not do well in areas that may get flooding or even salty water.
This short trunk trees develops lots of wide, bushy branches and requires full sun. Its deciduous leaves are soft, medium green with smooth upper surfaces with whitish undersides that have a fine hairy surface. The leaflets are very sensitive to light and will fold together at night or when the tree is shaken or abruptly shocked.
Once it flowers you will see small clusters of downy red-stalked, lilac, purple-streaked flowers which are about ¼ “ wide in the axils of the leaves on the twigs.
When it bears fruit it is magnificent with oblong, showy angled fruits which may be 1 ½ to 6 inches in length and upwards of 3 ½ inches wide. The skin of the star fruit is thin, waxy with an orange-yellow color and the fruit is juicy and crisp when fully ripe. When you cut the fruit in a cross section it will have the form of a star, thus the name star fruit!
Some of the star fruit may have up to 12 flat, thin brown sees and some may have no seeds at all. The flavor ranges from mildly sweet to very sour and tastes something like a mix of apple, pineapple, and kiwi fruit adding great texture and flavor to salads and other cooking.
Though the star fruit tree doesn’t seem to have any bad habits it is a tree that bears patience in planting and is often planted as an accent tree where the fruit has been used as a “conversation piece” more than food. However, it is good food and a good tropical fruit tree where you have a limited space to plant one.
The pests that one might have to deal with are fruit flies, stinkbugs, nematodes, black beetles, anthracnose, sooty mold and leaf spot. However, a good organic gardener will know how to handle that.
Another nice thing about the Star Fruit tree is that they are affordable to buy when you want to plant and you might consider Arkin, Sri Kem Ban Gam and Kari star fruit trees.
“Tread the Earth Lightly” and in the meantime… May your day be filled with…
Peace, Light and Love,
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Author Bio Box: Arlene Wright Correll
 For more gardening or cooking information click http://www.learn-america.com/
To see Arlene’s Gardens and to read her gardening diaries and to take a walk through her pictorial garden or click on Arlene’s Books where you can download or buy her gardening & cook books, including her new book, “The ABC’s of Wine and Beer Making”. Many of her articles written for Greenthumbarticles have paintings she has created of the subject and they can be seen at her “How to Do It” site. Remember to check out her artwork, especially of her fruits and vegetables. Many of her paintings are sold internationally and many of her works of art have been reproduced on note cards, post cards and other functional items and you can get Giclee prints of her artwork starting as low as $11.89 Arlene says, “All my royalties from the sale of my books, art, etc. go to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and I thank you for visiting my sites.”
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