Plant questions

Real questions from home gardeners, the kind people post with a worried photo, answered by GrowPls: what's likely going on, what to do about it, and when to worry.

Showing questions tagged #fruit-tree · show all

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  sapodilla (chikoo)

  What is this tree with brown round fruits – is the fruit edible?

  This looks very much like a sapodilla (chikoo) tree, whose ripe fruit is edible and sweet, but never eat anything based only on an online ID. Have a local plant expert or neighbor familiar with the tree confirm it in person before tasting.

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  soursop

  What plant has this green spiky hanging fruit?

  The plant is a soursop tree (Annona muricata), a tropical fruit tree with soft, spiky green fruits. Let the fruit grow until it becomes slightly soft and the spines flatten a bit before harvesting.

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  papaya

  What plant is this tall tree with lobed leaves and green elongated fruits?

  The plant in the photo is a papaya tree (Carica papaya). It produces the familiar papaya fruits, which start out green and turn yellow or orange as they ripen.

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  ambarella (June plum)

  What is this Polynesian fruit that tastes like pineapple and mango?

  This looks like ambarella (also called June plum or golden apple), a Polynesian fruit tree whose tart, crunchy fruits can taste like a mix of pineapple and mango. Start by confirming the ID from a fallen ripe fruit: it should turn golden-yellow and have a very fibrous stone in the center.

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  mulberry (Morus)

  What is this plant with serrated leaves and mulberry-like catkins?

  This looks like a mulberry tree (Morus), grown for its sweet berries and as food for silkworms. Let it grow in full sun, water regularly while young, and you’ll soon get edible fruits once the catkins develop and ripen.

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