I have always wanted a starfruit tree and two years ago I finally bought one. It has grown relatively quickly and even survived the hurricane with some leaves missing, but still alive and in one piece. People that have a starfruit tree or two often have to give the fruit away due to abundant crops – what a problem to have! Some fruits are either feast or famine and the star fruit is one of those wonders. Whether you call it carambola, star fruit or five-finger, the fruit tree known scientifically as Averrhoa carambola is exotic, tasty, and makes a nice ornamental yard tree. Why not try this tree fruit in your own back yard?
I always like to start with any warnings just to set the stage as we move forward with the culture of starfruit. Let me quote – word for word – from our UF/IFAS publication, “People who have been diagnosed with kidney disease should not eat carambola (star fruit) unless their doctor says it is safe for them to eat. This fruit may contain enough oxalic acid to cause a rapid decline in renal function.” Originally from Southeast Asia, the starfruit has been grown in Florida for over one hundred years and is commercially produced in Dade, Lee, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. This now popular fruit is commonly seen in produce departments in most grocery stores and is familiar to almost everyone. The starfruit tree is small to medium in size (rarely over twenty-feet tall and wide) , evergreen to semi-evergreen depending on winter temperatures and may have a single or multiple trunks. The small, but ornamental pink to lavender flowers are about three-eighths of an inch long. The flowers are followed by a fleshy waxy berry from two to six-inches long with five lobbed ribs that appear star-shaped when cut in cross-section. It takes about seventy-five days from the time the fruit sets until it is ready to pick. Each fruit contains about twelve edible seeds.
Starfruit really appreciate being protected from windy sites and windbreaks are often in place around commercial operations. Wind damaged trees will show browning or distorted leaves, some stem dieback, fruit damage and general stunted growth. Keeping starfruit trees pruned to about twelve feet tall will also help increase hurricane resistance. Select a site to plant your starfruit that is in full sun, out of the wind and in well-drained soil. If necessary, plant the tree on a mound of soil to raise it up above areas that sometimes flood. Build the mound three to four foot high and four to ten feet wide using native soil. Starfruit are not tolerant of salty conditions and also may show nutrient deficiencies in high pH soils. As the tree matures, its tolerance to cold and freezing will improve. Generally, at temperatures of twenty to twenty-four degrees Fahrenheit, large branches and even mature trees may die. Accordingly, some protection may be necessary during the coldest of our winter weather.
Starfruit normally have two major crops per year – August to September and from December to February – as well as scattered smaller crops throughout the year. A five-year-old tree has the potential to produce up to one hundred pounds of fruit per tree. Mature trees can eventually supply you with over two-hundred and fifty pounds a year. As I mentioned earlier, it is no wonder why starfruit tree owners are always giving fruit away to friends and neighbors! A complete fertilizer suitable for tropical fruits used as per label directions will keep the tree productive and healthy. In addition, foliar applications of micronutrients may be needed to ward off deficiencies. Variety selection is as much an issue of what is available in the local garden centers, and what your personal tastes are. Starfruit are either sweet or tart – some tart varieties will even sweeten up if left on the tree to ripen further. ‘Arkin’ – a cultivar that originated in Florida, has a sweet flavor and is very well suited for backyard production. ‘Lara’ is another variety from Florida that is also sometimes available. ‘Fwang Tung’ is also recommended. My tree is the cultivar called ‘Bell’ – very good fruit so far! Local box store garden centers and specialty nurseries regularly carry this exotic underutilized fruit. Starfruit is a great dooryard fruit tree that is easy to grow and produces an abundance of tasty fruit. Perhaps give one as a gift to a gardening friend who has everything – except a starfruit tree! For more information on all types of fruit to grow in our area, or to ask a question, you can also call the Master Gardener Volunteer Helpdesk on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 1 to 4 pm at 764-4340 for gardening help and insight into their role as an Extension volunteer. Ralph E. Mitchell is the Director/Horticulture Agent for UF/IFAS Extension Charlotte County. He can be reached at 941-764-4344 or ralph.mitchell@charlottecountyfl.gov. Connect with us on social media. Like us on Facebook @CharlotteCountyExtension and follow us on Instagram @ifascharco.
Resources:
Crane, J. H. (2016) Carambola Growing in the Florida Home Landscape. The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.
Ballen, F. H., Singh, A., Evans, E. A. & Crane J. H. (2020) Sample Profitability and Cost Estimates of Producing Sweet Carambola (Averrhoa carambola) in South Florida1
People who have been diagnosed with kidney
disease should not eat carambola (star fruit) unless their
doctor says that it is safe for them to eat. This fruit may
contain enough oxalic acid to cause a rapid decline in renal
function.
2
