Casimiroa edulis
Casimiroa edulis
Safety & Hazards
The seed is said to be fatally toxic if eaten raw by humans or animals[1].
Cultivation Details
Plants are about as hardy as a lemon (Citrus limon)[2], which means that they can tolerate occasional frosts. In tropical latitudes the plant can be found at elevations between 700 - 3,000 metres, but it is best grown between 1,000 - 2,000 metres[1]. In subtropical climate it can be grown at sea level[1]. It is distinctly subtropical in its climatic requirements, surviving light frosts. On the other hand, flowering during the coldest months tends to result in poor fruit set[1]. Plants are unlikely to do well in lowland tropical areas, especially in the wetter regions[PFAF]. Temperature range for growth is reported to be 14 - 31°c with the optimum between 18 - 26°c. Temperatures around -1 to -2°c may injure young growing shoots and cause fruit drop, whereas temperatures about -3 to -4°c may kill the tree to the ground. Annual rainfall range for growth is reported to be 500 - 4,000mm with the optimum between 1,500 - 3,000mm[1]. Prefers an open, well-drained site on a loamy soil[2], though it can succeed on a wide range of soil types from sands to clay-loams[3]. Prefers a pH in the range 7 - 7.5, tolerating 6.5 - 8[4]. Established plants are drought resistant, though they need adequate moisture if they are to fruit well[2]. Seedling trees usually begin to bear in 7 - 8 years[1]. Grafted trees start bearing in 3 - 4 years[1]. Trees can flower and produce fruit at more than one time of the year[5]. A mature tree can produce more than 100 kilos of fruit a year[5]. There are many named varieties[2].
Propagation
Seed - sow in containers. Trees produce taproots, so the seed should be sown in deep containers and the plants moved straight to their permanent positions once they are large enough[5]. Seed of cultivars does not breed true[2]. Layering[2]. Commercial growers in New Zealand have had success with air-layers[1]. Cuttings are very difficult to root[1]. Grafting. Seedlings of the cultivar 'Pike', being vigorous growers, are preferred as rootstock. Shield-budding and side-grafting in spring onto stocks up to 2 cm thick give good results. Cleft grafts and slot grafts are made on larger rootstocks and when top working mature trees[1]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Casimiroa+edulis>
Pollinators
Data unavailable
References
- [1]World Agroforesty Centre — http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ ↩︎An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
- [2]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
- [3]Plant Resources of Southeast Asia — http://proseanet.org/ ↩︎Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
- [4]Ecocrop — http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home ↩︎Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
- [5]Trade Winds Fruit — http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/index.htm ↩︎The on-line catalogue of a company selling seeds. Gives descriptions, photos and uses of a very wide range of fruit and other food-producing plants plus ornamentals.
- [6]Tropical and Subtropical Trees - A Worldwide Encyclopaedic Guide. — Barwick. M. · Thames & Hudson, London · 2004 · ISBN 0-500-51181-0 ↩︎A superb book, very concise and well written, giving a wealth of information on 400 or more species including descriptions, habitat, cultivation details and plant uses. A wealth of colour photographs bring each plant vividly to life.
- [7]Cornucopia II — Facciola. S. · Kampong Publications, California. · 1998 · ISBN 0-9628087-2-5 ↩︎The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
- [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎