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Fruit & Orchards

Fruit Tree ID Help - Papaya Tree??

hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA

13 years ago

Hoping someone can help me indentify a small tree I have growing on my property. It is growing under some significant shade canopy of Princess Trees and Queen/Fan palms. It is also in one of the moister areas of my yard, as it is the lowest point of the yard. Not super wet by any means, but during winter, this is the part of the yard where most of the water drainage goes. I am wondering? if it is a young papaya? Seems sort of hard to believe, based on the fact they do NOT like to be wet during the winter, but I just can't identify these deeply lobed leaves. Sorry for the fuzziness of one of the photos:

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Patty S.

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Comments (2)

Embothrium
13 years ago
Carica papaya is a non-woody plant with palmate (hand-like) leaves bunched near the top of bare, seldom-branching trunks. Tree shown is very different. If there is a likelihood of it having popped up on its own, look around you for a possible parent tree. It may be several properties away, or your specimen have come in from some distance via topsoil or in the roots of another plant. Plants dispersed by birds can also be spread over miles in one go.
hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA
Original Author
13 years ago
Not a volunteer, it was definitely planted by the previous owners. They had an interest in rare and odd things. I think I've narrowed it down to a Stenocarpus sinuatus (Firewheel Tree), an Australian native, with the help from one of the California Gardening Forum members. So far, that seems to be closest to what I am seeing. I've sent photos to my local tree nursery (Brigg's Tree Nursery in Vista, Calif), who are always ID'ing things for customers. They kind have a little competition between themselves to see who can most frequently ID unusual specimens, so it's "game on" over at Brigg's :-)

Patty S.
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From what I can see, the two that look identical and more mature, than the smaller one, also seems the smaller one branched off, where the other two are just one stem. 1) Being older plants, the leaves may get bigger. Notice how the older leaves on the bigger plants are the same size as your smaller younger plant. 2) Also you mentioned that this one plant was purchased at a different time, so its possible that it was grown under different conditions, ( light, soil, time of year ). 3) Its a seedling, so there can be natural variation. Grumichamas are a very nice looking plant, here is an older photo of mine. its bigger now. Thats a Jackfruit, Bay rum, Grumichama, Ylang ylang and i think thats a Pitanga at far right
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they like a lot of nitrogen and organic matter. and, while i would water fairly often when its very hot, it really depends on the type of soil also. if the soil doesnt drain well, and the soil is moist/wet - i wouldnt water. you want the soil to be moist, but not wet. if its mulched well, thaat reduces the need for frequent waterings also. you can add epsom salt also. i give mine 1 teaspoon a month in the water and foliar spray with epsom once a week. fish, worm castings, chicken poo are all good organics to add. mulch heavily, but leave a few inches near the trunk open. if you want to use chemical ferts i would normally say use what i use KGRO 24-8-16 (high N) it has lots of micro-nutrients as well but, since it has fruit, you may want to cut back on the N, and use something balanced
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