Jackfruit
Artocarpus heterophyllus
The image shows a large, simple, alternate leaf with an elliptic to obovate shape, entire margin, acute to obtuse apex, and a prominent midrib with pinnate venation.
- Light
- Full sun, requiring at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily
- Water
- Moderate watering needs. Water deeply when the top few inches of soil feel dry, ensuring good drainage to prevent root rot.
- Growth
- Large evergreen tree with a dense canopy, growing up to 20 meters tall with a moderate to fast growth rate
Care instructions
Provide full sun exposure, well-draining loamy soil, and regular watering during dry periods while avoiding waterlogged conditions. Apply balanced fertilizer during the active growing season.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun, requiring at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily
Watering
Moderate watering needs. Water deeply when the top few inches of soil feel dry, ensuring good drainage to prevent root rot.
Soil
Well-draining sandy loam or clay loam soils with a slightly acidic to neutral pH range of 6.0 to 7.5
Hardiness zone
USDA Hardiness Zones 10 through 12, as the plant is sensitive to frost and thrives in tropical and subtropical climates
Growth habit
Large evergreen tree with a dense canopy, growing up to 20 meters tall with a moderate to fast growth rate
Bloom season
Spring and summer, producing small, inconspicuous unisexual flowers on specialized branchlets or directly on the trunk and large branches
Propagation
Propagated primarily through seeds sown fresh, or through vegetative methods such as grafting and air layering
Common pests & issues
Susceptible to root rot in poorly draining soils, and occasional infestations by borers, mealybugs, and scale insects
Similar species
Artocarpus altilis (Breadfruit), which features deeply lobed leaves rather than the entire, unlobed elliptic leaves characteristic of Artocarpus heterophyllus