Hortiforum

General Info – Star Apple, Caimito, Abiaba, Milk Fruit

The Star Apple, or Caimito, stands as an one of the best examples of the wonderful, exotic tropical fruits that remains obscured from consumers. Despite its handsome ornamental form, the Star Apple is cultivated minimally across Australia, either in a domestic or commercial setting.
Star Apples are beloved for their sweet, gelatinous flesh, offering a delightful, refreshing and healthy dessert fruit, especially when served chilled. Their taste is likened to a smooth blend of Grape, Persimmon and Lychee with a subtle milky undertone, a wonderfully unique flavour profile. The moniker ‘Star Apple’ is justified upon slicing the oval fruits horizontally, revealing a resplendent star-shaped pattern within. Belonging to the Sapotaceae family, Star Apples yield copious amounts of latex when unrripe, rendering immature fruits inedible and even mature fruits can release some latex from their rinds, although this does not render them inedible at all. Star Apples fruits come in three distinct hues—Purple, Green, and Yellow—with each colour being progressively rarer. Star Apples can demand patience, taking up to seven years to bear fruit from seedlings. However, grafted varieties offer a swifter alternative for those eager to enjoy fruits or seeking compact tree sizes.
Star Apples have beautiful, ornamental leaves with a glossy, emerald green upper side contrasting against a shining, golden brown underside, similar to the foliage of a Magnolia. Mature Star Apple trees form expansive canopies with abundant, drooping branches. Fragrant creamy flowers grace the branches from late summer through autumn, adding to the tree’s aesthetic appeal. Star Apple commonly reach heights between 15-20m tall but can tower up to 35m in exceptional cases.
Originally cultivated in the tropics of Central America, Star Apples have spread across the tropics due to their adaptability to diverse soil conditions, provided adequate drainage is ensured. Exhibiting resilience to drought once established, these trees thrive in seasonally dry climates, but require ample watering during fruiting periods. While tolerance to frosts is reported once mature, Star Apples flourish best in frost-free, cool subtropical climates, albeit with slower growth rates. Star Apple can be cultivated as far south as Sydney, with a large specimen present in the Sydney Botanical Gardens. Optimal growth conditions include full sun exposure, wind protection, and a fertile, slightly acidic, loamy soil. For those with clay soils, mounding proves highly beneficial.
With its striking foliage, elegant form, and delectable fruits, the Star Apple emerges as a focal point in any garden, harmonising ornamental beauty with abundant yields of sumptuous dessert delights.

Plant Profile/Properties