Lúcuma
Pouteria lucuma
Dry, sweet, caramel-flavoured flesh that Peru turns into ice cream.
Hardiness: zones 10 to 12
Light: full sun
Size: about 30 ft tall, 20 ft wide
Harvest: January to May
From: Andes of Peru, Ecuador and Chile
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: food.
Native to: Andean highlands. Hardy in zones 10 to 12.
The story
Lúcuma was painted on Moche pottery and buried in tombs on the Peruvian coast 2,000 years ago, and it is still Peru's favourite ice-cream flavour, tasting of maple and sweet potato; the tree grows in the cool Andean valleys and coastal Chile.
Planting
Full sun, drained soil, and a mild, frost-free climate with cool nights; it dislikes humid heat. Plant a grafted tree; seedlings take seven years.
Growing
Water steadily in dry weather and mulch; prune lightly to shape. It is slow but long-lived.
Harvest and use
Fruit ripens over months and drops when ready; let it soften indoors a few days. Dry, floury flesh for ice cream, smoothies and baking.
What to watch for
Frost on young trees and fruit fly.
See if Lúcuma fits your yard
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More tropical and subtropical food plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home