Star Fruit 'Fwang Tung' (Averrhoa carambola)
Carambola, commonly known as Star Fruit for it's crisp star-shaped fruit, is a fast-growing, heavy producing tropical fruit tree. The Fwang Tung is a Thai Carambola cultivar known for being an especially prolific producer with very large, very pronounced star-shaped fruit. Fwang Tung fruit is especially sweet with a delicious grape-like flavor.
Carambola produces prolific and gorgeous, pink, purple, and white flowers. These flowers stem off of woody branches, and bear a lot of fruit in the summer and fall. The bright yellow fruit is naturally waxy and each fruit is about 4-6" long. The flavor is similar to a sweet-tart blend of green apple, pear, grape, and citrus.
Plant Type:
Tropical / Subtropical Evergreen Fruit Tree
Harvest Season:
Winter, Spring, Year-round
Star fruit and Bilimbi will bloom and fruit throughout most of the year, but will prominently flower from late Spring to Fall and fruit Winter through Spring.
Mature Size:
7-30 ft
Soil & Moisture:
Well-drained, high fertility and good moisture-holding capacity; High nitrogen demands. Regular watering throughout the first year and throughout flowering and fruiting season.
Light Requirements:
Full Sun, Part Shade, Shade
Prefers part shade or filtered light but will thrive in a variety of light conditions from full sun to shade.
Self-Fertile:
Yes
Growth Rate:
Medium
Zone Hardiness:
Outdoors 9-11; Patio/Greenhouse 4+
Star Fruit and Bilimbi are both easy to grow in a container and can thrive in a large pot. In the colder months, until well-established, Star Fruit and Bilimbi trees may lose their leaves, so they could be overwintered indoors if temperatures reach below freezing. Prune trees in late winter.
Propagation:
Large Pot Size: Grafted and capable of harvest within 1-2 years.
X-Large Pot Size: Grafted and capable of harvest within 1 year.
See More:
Sow Exotic offers many different unique varieties of Star Fruit!
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