Cecropia Tree
Cecropia Tree - 3 Gallon is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Fruit Tree Pot Size Reference Guide
Fruit Tree Pot Size Reference Guide
Display general product information or specific product information using metafields.
We sell grafted fruit trees in various sizes, ranging from young 3-gallon plants all the way up to 25-gallon and larger, mature trees.
As a general rule of thumb, here’s what you can expect from each size:
3 gallon: Will take an average of 2-3 years before harvesting your first crop. Trees are small and may be just a single stem, or just starting to develop their first branches. Typical height is between 2-4 feet.
7 gallon: Will take an average of 1–2 years to produce a crop. Branching structure has started to develop, and trunks are between ½ to 1 inch thick. Typical height is between 3-6 feet.
15 gallon: You can usually expect fruit within a year of planting, and some trees are already fruiting at this size. Branch and canopy structure has taken shape and the tree is starting to grow wider. Trunks are between 1 to 1-½ inches thick. Typical height is 5-8 feet.
25 gallon and larger: These are mature trees, and most are ready to produce fruit or have already produced. They have been pruned and shaped multiple times at this point. Trunks are about 2” thick or larger. Typical height is 6-10 ft.
PLEASE NOTE: These descriptions are generalized - Some species of fruit trees are very quick to produce, and others take longer. For example, mulberry trees can start fruiting at a very young age, even as small as a 3 gallon. Mango, avocado, or sapodilla trees will take longer. Each species grows at a different rate and will take varying lengths of time to establish, and even different cultivars can be more precocious (quick to produce) than others.
Order Pick Up/Delivery Info
Order Pick Up/Delivery Info
When you select the “Nursery Pickup” option at checkout, please allow up to 24-48 hours for your order to be prepared for pickup. Once your order is ready for pickup, we will email you to let you know that it is ready. Plant orders may be held at the nursery for up to 10 days. If orders are not picked up within this time frame, a 15% restocking fee will be charged. If you are unable to pick up your order, please contact us to request a quote for delivery.
If you prefer to have us deliver your plants, select "Ship" at checkout and choose the "Local Delivery" option. (This option will not be visible if your order is below the $300 minimum for delivery). Delivery cost for orders within 20 miles is a flat rate of $50. If your address is further than 20 miles, we will invoice you for the additional mileage at $3/mile upon fulfilling your order. Deliveries are typically scheduled on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Please include your phone number and any delivery instructions in the order notes.
Responsibility of Care
Responsibility of Care
Return Policy
Return Policy
Inventory Disclaimer
Inventory Disclaimer
Every day, we take great care to maintain our inventory and make real-time updates as plants come and go. Because our inventory is constantly changing, and because in-store and online purchases are being made simultaneously, it is possible for a short window to occur when an item is physically sold out, but listed as in-stock on this platform. This is rare, but in the case that it does happen, we will contact you right away and either refund the item or offer an alternative. Thank you for your understanding!
Additionally, we add new plants to the nursery on a weekly, sometimes daily basis. Check back often to see what’s in stock, and click the “Notify me when this item is available” button to get updates when your wish-list items are restocked!
Description
Description
Latin name - Cecropia peltata
Cecropia, also known as “Gummy Worm Fruit” and trumpet tree, is a large tropical tree which looks like something out of Jurassic Park. It produces a fruit resembling a gummy worm, snake skin, or “dead man’s fingers”– a wrinkly, elongated, pale colored fruit which forms in hand-shaped clusters. When ready to eat, it slides right off the stem and, despite the strange description, tastes delightful. It’s sweet as honey, with light notes of fig and sometimes watermelon. This is a rare and hard to find tree in Florida, and is a true collector’s item.
Cecropia is actually known around the world as one of the worst invasive tree species in the areas where it grows wild. The Cecropia type grown in Florida is sterile (it doesn’t make seeds) and cultivated exclusively by air-layering, so at this point there’s no risk of it becoming a nuisance here, however, seeded versions run rampant in some tropical countries of Central and South America. The Cecropia tree grows quickly to overstory size, and can become as tall as 50 feet in Florida.
Because of the unique and delicious “gummy worm” fruit, Cecropia has become a bit popular and we actually get asked about it quite often. But it’s only a good choice for those with ample space for a large tree with an otherworldly appearance.
_____________________________________________________________________
Size: 20-50 feet
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Cold Hardy: 35 degrees F
Harvest Season: Year-round
Watering requirements: Grows best with irrigation but will easily survive drought periods.
Food Forest Layer: Canopy
