Description: IMPORTANT INFORMATION: PROTECT YOUR YOUNG PLANT FROM EXCESSIVE SUNLIGHT. KEEP THEM IN TEMPS OF 70 F TO 80 F IN FULL SHADE UPON ARRIVAL SO THAT YOUR PLANT MAY ACCLIMATE SLOWLY TO PREVENT SHOCK. THESE CONDITIONS SHOULD BE MAINTAINED FOR AT LEAST 1 TO 2 DAYS THEN GRADUALLY INCREASE LIGHT EXPOSURE TO PART SHADE WITH FILTERED LIGHT. ONCE YOUR PLANT HAS RECOVERED THEN PLACING YOUR SEEDLING SOMEWHERE THAT RECEIVES PART SHADE DOES BEST TO MINIMIZE EXCESS SUN WHICH MAY BURN LEAVES OR SHOCK A YOUNG PLANT THAT IS RECOVERING FROM SHIPPING STRESS. IF LEAVES ARE BECOMING YELLOW/BURNED THEN YOUR LOCATION WHERE YOU HAVE PLACED YOUR PLANT IS TOO SUNNY/HOT. ONCE YOUR PLANT IS FULLY RECOVERED THEN YOU MAY PLACE IT IN MILD SUNLIGHT CONDITIONS IN A WIND FREE LOCATION UNTIL YOUR PLANT BECOMES MORE MATURE (3 TO 4 FEET TALL) AND CAN HANDLE FULL SUN. IF YOUR PLANT ARRIVES DAMAGED BEYOND VIABILITY THEN CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY WITH PICTURES OF BOTH THE BOX AND THE DAMAGED PLANT STILL SECURED IN THE BOX SO THAT I CAN ADDRESS THE ISSUE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I DO MY BEST TO KEEP ALL MY CUSTOMERS HAPPY SO PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE NEGATIVE FEEDBACK BEFORE ALLOWING ME A CHANCE TO MAKE THE SITUATION RIGHT. HOWEVER, I CAN NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGE DUE TO FAILURE TO WATER YOUR PLANT, LEAVING IT IN EXCESSIVELY HIGH HEAT/SUNLIGHT OR LOW/FREEZING TEMPERATURES. CHRYSOPHYLLUM CAINITO IS MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS STAR APPLE BUT CAN ALSO BE FOUND UNDER THE NAMES CAIMITO, ESTRELLA, GOLDEN LEAF TREE, CAIMITO MADURAVERDE (SPANISH) CAINITO, AJARA (PORTUGAL) CAIMITIER (FRENCH) AS WELL AS OTHER COMMON NAMES DEPENDING ON THE COUNTRY WHERE IT CAN BE FOUND. THIS FRUITING TREE IS CLOSELY RELATED TO THE MAMEY, CANISTEL, ABIU AND GREEN SAPOTE. THE ORIGIN OF CAIMITO IS THOUGHT TO BE WEST INDIES AND CENTRAL AMERICA BUT IT CAN ALSO BE FOUND IN THE CARIBBEAN, CENTRAL AMERICA, NORTHERN SOUTH AMERICA, AUSTRALIA AND SOME COUNTRIES OF SOUTHEAST ASIA AND AFRICA. SPANISH EXPLORERS DISCOVERED CAIMITO GROWING IN PERU DURING THE 1500'S. SEEDS OF THE CAIMITO WERE EVENTUALLY INTRODUCED TO FLORIDA IN 1887 AS WELL AS HAWAII IN 1901. ASIA AND AFRICA AQUIRED SEEDS DURING THE 20TH CENTURY LEADING TO FURTHER DISTRIBUTION OF THIS DELICIOUS FRUITING TREE. CAIMITO TREES ARE ABLE TO GROW FROM 25 TO 100 FT TALL, TYPICALLY WITH AN OVAL TO ROUND CANOPY WITH BRANCHES THAT HAVE A WEEPING GROWTH HABIT. THE LEAVES, WHEN THEY ARE MORE MATURE, HAVE A SOMEWHAT LEATHERY APPEARANCE THAT HAVE A SHINY SUPERIOR SURFACE WHILE THE LOWER SURFACE HAS A GOLDEN BROWN/BRONZE COLORATION THAT CREATES AN EXCELLENT CONTRAST WHEN THE TREE IS GROWN AS A LANDSCAPE SPECIMEN. WHEN IN BLOOM, THE FLOWERS ARE VERY SMALL, GREEN/YELLOW TO PURPLE/WHITE AND MAINLY HELD IN CLUSTERS ARISING FROM LEAF AXILS. FLOWERS HAVE A TUBULAR APPEARANCE WITH A 5 LOBED COROLLA, WITH 5-6 SEPALS. FRUIT ARE GENERALLY ROUND BUT CAN BE SOMEWHAT ELLIPSOID WITH A DIAMETER FROM 2 TO 4 INCHES. THE SKIN IS SMOOTH AND GLOSSY WITH A SOMEWHAT LEATHERY APPEARABNCE. THE SKIN COLOR MAY BE RED-PURPLE, DARK PURPLE, OR A PALE GREEN DEPENDING ON THE VARIETY. GREEN SKINNED FRUIT HAVE A WHITE RIND WHILE THE PURPLE SKINNED VARIETIES HAVE A PURPLE RIND. THE FRUIT CAN BE CUT IN HALF TO REVEAL THE SEEDS THAT ARE IN A STAR SHAPED ORIENTATION WITHING THE SEED CELLS. A SOFT WHITE, SWEET, MILKY PULP ENCAPUSALATES FROM 6 TO 10 SEEDS THAT ARE HELD FIRMLY BOUND IN A RUBBERY SEED CELL THAT IS SURROUNDED BY A SWEET GELATINOUS PULP. THE PULP AND CELLS ARE EDIBLE WHILE THE SEEDS ARE GENERALLY DISCARDED OR PLANTED IF ONE WISHES TO PROPAGATE MORE TREES. CLIMATE: CAIMITO WILL GROW WELL IN WARM LOCATIONS THAT ARE PROTECTED FROM LOW TEMPERATURES/INTENSE WINDY CONDITIONS BUT THIS FRUITING TREE IS BEST ADAPTED TO LOWLAND TROPICAL CLIMATES THAT ARE MOSTLY HOT. AIR TEMPERATURES THAT REMAIN CONSISTENTLY AT OR BELOW 40 F OR STRONG WINDY CONDITIONS WILL RESULT IN DEFOLIATION OF YOUNG LEAVES. OLDER MORE MATURE TREES ARE A LITTLE MORE COLD TOLERANT BUT WILL SUFFER LEAF AND BRANCH/TWIG DAMAGE IF TEMPERATURES DROP BELOW 30 F. DEATH IS CERTAIN IF TEMPERATURES DROP BELOW 25 F EVEN IN MATURE TREES. YOUNGER TREES HAVE MUCH MORE LIMITED COLD TOLERANCE SUCCUMBING TO DAMAGE OR TREE DEATH IF TEMPERATURES DROP BELOW 35 F SOIL: DOES BEST IN WELL DRAINED, RICH, FERTILE SOILS WITH SLIGHTLY LOWER THAN NEUTRAL PH BUT IS VERY MUCH ADAPTABLE TO HIGHER PH CALCAREOUS, ROCKY, SANDY SOILS THAT ARE INDIGENOUS TO SOUTH FLORIDA WHICH ALLOWS IT TO DO QUITE WELL IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. ALKALINE AND HIGH PH SOILS CAN RESULT IN IRON DEFICIENCY BUT THIS CAN BE CORRECTED BY THE PERIODIC APPLICATION OF IRON CHELATING AGENTS THAT ARE DESIGNED FOR ALKALINE/HIGH PH SOILS. LOW PH SOILS CAN BE CORRECTED BY PERIODIC APPLICATIONS OF FERROUS (IRON) SULFATE IF NECESSARY. IRRIGATION/WATERING: IF YOU ARE GROWING YOUR SEEDLING IN A 1 GALLON PLASTIC NURSERY POT, KEEP SOIL MOIST TO WET BUT DO NOT ALLOW WATER TO POOL IN YOUR POT. ONCE YOUR TREE IS 2 TO 4 FEET TALL, YOU MAY TRANSPLANT TO YOUR GARDEN LOCATION OF CHOICE WHERE YOUR PLANT SHOULD BE WATERED AT PLANTING AND EVERY OTHER DAY FOR THE FIRST 2 WEEKS. YOUR PLANT SHOULD THEN BE WATERED AT LEAST 1 TO 2 TIMES A WEEK FOR THE FIRST 2 TO 3 MONTHS (MORE FREQUENTLY IF YOUR SUNLIGHT IS INTENSE AND YOUR SOIL BECOMES EXTREMELY DRY). DURING PROLONGED PERIODS OF DROUGHT, YOUR YOUNG TREE SHOULD BE WATERED AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK. DURING RAINY SEASON AND COLDER MONTHS, WATERING CAN BE DECREASED OR STOPPED ENTIRELY DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH PRECIPITATION YOU RECEIVE. DURING FLOWERING TO FRUITING SEASON, DROUGHT CONDITIONS SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE AVOIDED BY PROVIDING REGULAR WATERING IF YOUR FRUITING SEASON IS HOT OR FRUIT PRODUCTION WILL POTENTIALLY SUFFER. FERTILIZATION: YOUNG TREES WILL DO WELL WHEN FERTILIZED EVERY 1 TO 2 MONTHS DURING THEIR FIRST YEAR OF GROWTH WITH APPLICATIONS OF 1/4 LB OF FERTILIZER. ONCE YOUR TREE IS OVER 1 YEAR OLD YOU MAY THEN INCREASE THE FERTILIZER TO 1 LB AT 3 TIMES PER YEAR. AS YOUR TREE GETS LARGER, YOU MAY INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF FERTILIZER PROPORTIONAL TO THE SIZE OF YOUR TREE UP TO A MAXIMUM NOT TO EXCEED 20 LBS FOR A GIANT TREE. FERTILIZERS WITH AN NPK CONCENTRATION OF ANYWHERE FROM 6% TO 10% (NITROGEN/PHOSPHOROUS/POTASSIUM) WHILE MAGNESIUM (Mg) CONCENTRATIONS OF 4 TO 6% WILL SUFFICE FOR YOUR YOUNG TREE. POLLINATION: SOME CULTIVARS SUCH AS THE "BLANCO STAR" AND THE "HAITIAN STAR" DO NOT REQUIRE CROSS POLLINATION IN ORDER TO SET FRUIT WHILE OTHER CULTIVARS MAY REQUIRE CROSS POLLINATION IN ORDER TO OBTAIN FRUIT. MEDICINAL PROPERTIES: THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE USED AS MEDICAL ADVICE WITHOUT CONSULTING YOUR PHYSICIAN OR HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER. RIPE FRUIT IS VERY SOOTHING FOR INFLAMMATION CAUSED BY LARYNGITIS AS WELL AS PNEUMONIA. CAIMITO HAS ALSO BEEN USED IN THE TREATMENT OF ANGINA, DIABETES, FEVER AND HEMORRHAGE. THE BARK AS WELL AS THE LEAVES HAVE BEEN USED AS A MEDICINE WITH THE BARK USED TO TREAT DIARRHEA, DYSENTERY, GONORRHEA AND CATARRH OF THE BLADDER. THE LEAVES HAVE BEEN USED TO TREAT WOUNDS AS WELL AS HYPOGLYCEMIA. PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM UNABLE TO SHIP TO HAWAII, PUERTO RICO, OR INTERNATIONALLY DUE TO THE RISK OF THE PLANT NOT SURVIVING THE JOURNEY. IF YOU WISH TO COVER THE COST OF EXPEDITED SHIPPING YOU CAN MESSAGE AND WE CAN DISCUSS OPTIONS BUT I CAN NOT BE HELD LIABLE FOR LOSSES DUE TO USPS OR OTHER SHIPPING CARRIER SERVICES THAT DO NOT DELIVER ON TIME RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF YOUR SEEDLING(S) I make every effort to ship plants as soon as payment is received. I do not provide hot packs so be mindful of cold temperatures in your area. This evergreen perennial tolerates mild temperatures when it is young preferably no lower than 45 F. For this reason you may need to be present when the post man delivers your package or have someone collect it from your mail box and bring it indoors to warmer temperatures before it gets damaged. I ship all of my plants via USPS FIRST CLASS 2 to 3 day delivery with tracking that is available upon request but unfortunately, sometimes the postal service does not deliver on time and packages do sometimes get lost. Please try to understand, this is something that is out of my control. If your plant arrives damaged beyond saving, please message me immediately with pictures of your plant still secured to the box that it arrived in so that I may correct the problem as soon as possible. There is no need to leave negative feedback as I always try to answer questions or concerns on a very timely basis, sometimes within minutes of being messaged. Your satisfaction is my greatest concern and I will do everything possible to make things right. GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY GARDENING :)
Price: 30 USD
Location: Cape Coral, Florida
End Time: 2023-09-22T21:50:25.000Z
Shipping Cost: 0 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Climate: BEST IN HOT LOWLAND TROPICAL/SUBTROPICAL CLIMATES
Common Name: STAR APPLE
Color: SUPERIOR LIGHT GREEN/INFERIOR BRONZE LEAVES
Indoor/Outdoor: Outdoor
Growth Habit: OVAL TO ROUND WITH BRANCHES THAT HAVE A WEEPING APPEARANCE
Soil Type: PREFERS WELL DRAINING FERTILE SOIL WITH PH 5.5 TO 6.0, TOLERANT OF ROCKY, HIGHER PH CALCAREOUS SOILS, WELL DRAINING SOILS ARE ALSO IDEAL
Brand: Seedling
Plant Form: YOUNG SEEDLING
Season of Interest: Summer
Type: Fruits & Fruit Trees
Growth Stage: Seedling
Watering: REGULAR IRRIGATION UNTIL TREE IS MATURE
Genus: CHRYSOPHYLLUM
Number in Pack: 1
Growth Rate: SLOW
Sunlight: Full Sun, Medium Sun, DOES BEST IN PART SHADE WHEN IMMATURE, YOUNG TREES ARE NOT TOLERANT OF FULL SUN, BEST IF CONTAINER GROWN IN PART SHADE WHEN YOUNG
Foliage: EVERGREEN COMPOUND LEAVES 2-8 LEAFLETS
Features: Edible, Evergreen
