Papaya Carica papaya
Papaya (Carica papaya) is an evergreen perennial fruit plant in the Caricaceae family. It grows 2–5 m (6.6–16 ft) tall and 1.5–2.5 m (4.9–8.2 ft) wide, wants full sun and high water, and is hardy to about 2 °C (36 °F). Space plants about 2 m (6.6 ft) apart.
Plan Papaya in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Papaya at a glance
| Type | Perennial fruit plant, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Caricaceae |
| Mature height | 2–5 m (6.6–16 ft) |
| Mature spread | 1.5–2.5 m (4.9–8.2 ft) |
| Spacing | 2 m (6.6 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 7 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | High; drought tolerance none, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Cold hardiness | About 2 °C (36 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 10) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 38 °C (100 °F) |
| Flowering | from about April for 29–47 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | None |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Yes: ripe fruit, cooked unripe fruit |
| Common in gardens of | 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇵🇪 Peru, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇮🇳 India, 🇻🇳 Vietnam, 🇮🇩 Indonesia, 🇵🇭 Philippines, 🇲🇾 Malaysia, 🇰🇪 Kenya, 🇳🇬 Nigeria, 🇪🇹 Ethiopia, 🇨🇴 Colombia |
Is Papaya toxic?
- People: mildly toxic
- Cats: not well documented
- Dogs: not well documented
- Parts: latex, unripe fruit
Latex of unripe fruit irritates skin and stomach; ripe fruit is safe.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Papaya
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and high water.
See Papaya in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Kew: glasshouses and rock garden (1 plants)
- Thai tropical garden (1 plants)
Questions about Papaya
- How far apart should I plant Papaya?
- About 2 m (6.6 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 1.5–2.5 m (4.9–8.2 ft).
- Does Papaya need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 7 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Papaya need?
- High water. Drought tolerance is none and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Papaya?
- It tolerates about 2 °C (36 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 10.
- When does Papaya flower?
- From about April for 29–47 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Papaya poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not well documented; for dogs not well documented; for people mildly toxic. Latex of unripe fruit irritates skin and stomach; ripe fruit is safe.
- What grows well with Papaya?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Papaya. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (high).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
Notes and assumptions
- Typical garden-cultivar values; varieties differ.
- Often grown as a short-lived fruiting plant; sensitive to waterlogging.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Mountain papaya (chamburo, papayuela) Vasconcellea pubescens
- Strawberry Fragaria x ananassa
- Blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum
- Dwarf apple tree Malus domestica
- Raspberry Rubus idaeus
- Blackberry Rubus fruticosus agg.
- Grapevine Vitis vinifera
- Common fig Ficus carica