Starfruit
Averrhoa carambola
Several crops a year in warm places.
Hardiness: zones 9 to 11
Light: full sun to part shade
Size: about 20 ft tall, 20 ft wide
Harvest: August to February
From: SE Asia
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: South & Southeast Asian tropics. Hardy in zones 9 to 11.
The story
Carambola has been grown in Sri Lanka, Malaysia and India for centuries and travelled with Chinese and Indian settlers across the tropics; it came to Florida in 1887. Sliced crosswise it makes a five-pointed star.
Planting
Full sun or light shade, drained soil, and shelter from wind. Plant a grafted sweet variety like 'Arkin'; one tree fruits alone.
Growing
Water steadily and mulch; it is shallow-rooted and dislikes drought. Prune lightly for shape. It flowers and fruits in waves through the year in warm places.
Harvest and use
Pick when the ribs turn yellow with a slight green edge; eat whole, skin and all. Sweet types are for fresh eating, sour ones for cooking.
What to watch for
Fruit fly, leaf spot in humid weather, and cold; it drops leaves below about 32°F.
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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