Latin name - Artocarpus altilis
When thinking of true tropical fruit trees, it’s hard to overlook the magnificent Breadfruit. A close relative of the Jackfruit, Breadfruit is native to tropical Southeast Asia. It is consumed as a staple food throughout the tropics, and can be roasted, fried, or baked. Cooked Breadfruit tastes like freshly baked bread, with a slightly sweet flavor. Full of carbohydrates and a significant amount of protein, Breadfruit is an important and well loved food across the tropical world, and fortunately we are just inside its northern growing range in South Florida!
Breadfruit trees are beautiful, stately upright trees with very large leaves. They are sensitive to temperatures below 50 degrees, and can start to get leaf and tip burn with sustained cold snaps. It’s important when planting your Breadfruit tree to seek an area with a warm microclimate– a south-facing wall, beneath a protective canopy, or a space where protective measures can be taken. We have seen several cases of successful, productive Breadfruit trees in Loxahatchee, West Palm Beach, Riviera Beach, and southward.
Breadfruit trees require full sun to grow best, with well draining, fertile soil. In their native range, they can grow quite large, even exceeding 50 feet, however in Florida the largest Breadfruit trees we have seen were only about 20 feet tall. They can begin fruiting relatively quickly if conditions are favorable. The majority of the time, Breadfruit is consumed unripe and cooked. But, a lesser known fact is that ripe Breadfruit can be eaten when soft, and to me it tastes like vanilla pudding with a hint of passionfruit.
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Size: 15’ wide x 20’ tall
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Cold Hardy: 50 degrees
Harvest Season: Late Summer
Watering requirements: Needs supplemental watering during dry season.
