The Starfruit Carambola (Averrhoa carambola) is a small fruit bearing tree with an attractive bushy, evergreen foliage. This fruit has a delicious tangy flavor that resembles an apple, grape, and citrus combination. It’s an incredible fruit with a very distinctive star shape to the fruit as it matures. The starfruit is a fast grower and performs best in USDA growing zones 9-11 outdoors and 4-11 on the patio (potted tree) in full sun. Starfruit trees mature to a height of 20-35 feet tall and 20-25 feet wide.

Location: Choose a location where your starfruit tree is going to get plenty of sunlight, 6-8 hours per day is best. The tree can adapt to any soil type, but grows faster and produces more fruit in a soil with more organic matter. Be sure the area has well draining soil as the tree will not tolerate consistently standing water. These trees will also do better in an area that is protected or sheltered from the wind.

Planting Instructions (in ground):
1) Dig the hole 3 times the width and slightly shallower than the root ball.
2) Loosen the soil, in and around the hole so the roots can easily break through.
3) Use your fingers to separate the roots of your tree and gently position it down into the hole. The top of the root flare (where the roots end and the trunk begins) should be about an inch above the surrounding soil.
4) Hold the tree straight as you begin to backfill the site, tamping down the soil as you go.
5) Back fill the hole, apply water to settle the soil and remove any air pockets that may have formed.

Planting Instructions (potted): Potted starfruit trees aren’t too picky when it comes to the type of soil they’re grown in. They do tend to grow more quickly and bear a more heavier fruit production in rich loam soils that are moderately acidic (5.5-6.5 pH range).

1) When selecting a container for your starfruit, be sure it has plenty of holes in the bottom as drainage is essential. The pot size should be at least 2 times larger than the pot it initially came in.
2) Fill the container halfway with soil, gently remove the tree from its original pot and position into the new one.
3) Fill in around the tree with the potting soil but but be sure not to cover the grafted area of the tree. Leave about about an inch from the soil surface to the rim of the pot for easy watering.
4) Lightly pack down the soil as you fill and give your tree a deep watering until it flows from the holes in the bottom of the pot. This will settle the soil and eliminate any air pockets that may have formed.
5) Choose a location on the patio, back yard, front/side of the house providing it will receive full sun.
6) If bringing indoors for the winter, keep by a sunny window and water as needed. Also, avoid exposure to both drafts and heat from ventilation.

Watering (in ground): Water your starfruit tree regularly to keep the soil moist. Give it a good deep watering so that it can penetrate into the root system. After watering, allow the top 2-3 inches of the soil to dry out before watering again. Avoid over watering, standing water can lead to root rot. Yellowing, droopy leaves are typically a telltale sign of over watering. Mulching can help retain the soil moisture and also combat competing grasses/weeds.

Watering (potted): Stick your index finger into the soil down to about 2 inches. If there is moisture present, hold off on watering until it feels more dry at that depth. When ready to water, stop once you see it escaping drainage holes at the base of the pot.

Pollination assistance: You can pollinate your indoor trees by hand since most people do not keep a healthy bee population within their home. Simply take a small, fine tipped paint brush and stick it into the center of the blooms. Swirl it around and collect the pollen on the brush. Go to the next bloom and repeat the process until every bloom has been treated. The bloom will fall off naturally and the fruit well begin to form.

Fertilization: Feed your starfruit tree from spring through fall once a month with a well balanced fertilizer like a 10-10-10 or 12-12-12 formula. Be sure to follow the application instructions on the fertilizer.

Pruning: Starfruit trees should be pruned every 1-2 years to maintain a manageable fruiting height. For container grown trees, prune back the out-reaching branches. Pruning should be done in late winter before spring growth starts.