all the plants we love

Red Lady Papaya fruit and flesh

Red Lady Papaya fruit and flesh

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Red Lady Papaya foliage

Red Lady Papaya foliage

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Description:

A small evergreen tree that may bear fruit throughout the year; large umbrella-like canopy of palmately lobed leaves; good for containers; oblong, yellow-orange fruit when ripe; coral flesh is sweet and delicious great in salads, salsas and preserves

Edible Qualities

Red Lady Papaya is a small tree that is commonly grown for its edible qualities. It produces yellow oblong fruit (technically 'pomes') with a orange blush and coral-pink flesh which are typically harvested when mature. The fruits have a sweet taste with a soft texture and a pleasant fragrance.

The fruit are most often used in the following ways:

• Fresh Eating
• Cooking
• Baking
• Preserves
• Juice-Making

Features & Attributes

Red Lady Papaya has attractive dark green foliage with creamy white veins on a tree with an upright spreading habit of growth. The lobed palmate leaves are highly ornamental and remain dark green throughout the winter. The fruits are showy yellow pomes with a orange blush, which are carried in abundance in early fall. The fruit can be messy if allowed to drop on the lawn or walkways, and may require occasional clean-up.

This is an evergreen tree with a strong central leader and an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage. This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. It is a good choice for attracting birds, bees and butterflies to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Aside from its primary use as an edible, Red Lady Papaya is sutiable for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• General Garden Use
• Orchard/Edible Landscaping
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Red Lady Papaya will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 10 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. This is a self-pollinating variety, so it doesn't require a second plant nearby to set fruit.

This plant is typically grown in a designated edibles garden. It should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

Red Lady Papaya is a good choice for the edible garden, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Its large size and upright habit of growth lend it for use as a solitary accent, or in a composition surrounded by smaller plants around the base and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.