Carica papaya 'Lara'

The Papaya Tree

Papaya or "papaw" is a tropical tree native to Central America, known and grown in America since centuries ago. Now it is grown extensively throughout the tropics. Papaya trees have a single stem with a height that varies from 1,8-6 m (7-19 ft), on the top leaves are palm shaped with long petioles. Older trees will branch. Its sap is toxic in its natural state. It contains papain a useful enzyme tenderizer and digestive. Papayas always have fruits and flowers at the same time. Fruits are soft with and their colour varies from green, yellow, orange or pink. The variety 'Sensacion' is a new generation sexed variety,  It is a dioecious species, but artificial selection has originated hermaphrodite trees. Papayas are sensitive to frost but they are very fast growers and more resistant to viruses and diseases. Fruit weight is 0,5-2 kg but it can reach up to 9 kg (20 lb). The fruit has a smooth and inedible skin, and the flesh is yellow to rose coloured, aromatic, firm and smooth. Fruits are available all year-round. Mostly eaten fresh is also used in salads, salsas, smoothies and deserts.  It is not exigent with soils, growing in most soils or even in a big pot.

Here in Canarius we offer strong potted seedlings, a few months old ready to be planted in the ground or in large pots. The size of this plant is: 15-30 cm in height. It is hard to predict the exact size of papayas because they grow very fast! We will try to find a resonably robust seedling for you. Canarius is the only one in Europe with such a large offer of papaya cultivars.

Visit THIS LINK and see pictures of our fruit trees on the packing desk - learn more about what we ship.