This vigorous tree has a smooth brownish trunk with spreading branches that form a dense rounded crown. It has leathery glossy green elliptical leaves and the male and female flowers appear in spikes in summer followed by large eatable fruit.

Hardiness zones 9 to 12

Artocarpus heterophyllusis naturally found in the rainforests of Malaysia and India and is now widespread throughout South-east Asia including Burma, China, Sri Lanka,, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand. It has also grown in Africa, Brazil, the Caribbean, Florida, Hawaii and Australia and is found in coast lowlands and the lower mountains in wet or dry forest or open grasslands from sea level to an altitude of 1,600 m (5,249 ft).

It prefers a open sunny position and grows in deep well drained organic rich moist sandy to clay loams with a pH range of 5.0 to 7.5. It tolerates light frost, drought, salt laden winds and exposed positions but dislikes waterlogging or poor drainage.

Jackfruit is grown for its edible fruit and its vigorous dense bushy habit. It is planted in parks and gardens as a specimen or use along borders for screening. It is also used in moist tropical settings and is ideal for seaside locations as a wind break. It is suitable for coastal regions where it grows best but is also found in the lower mountains tolerating cooler conditions and establishes in 2-3 years and is long-lived.

The tree is grown commercially for its edible fruit, seeds and leaves and has been cultivated in India for up to 6,000 years in villages and farms where the fallen fruit and leaves provide fodder for cattle, pigs and goats. The timber is used in light construction or pulped and the bark, roots and leaves a used for medicinal purposes. ID 3022

Note:
Care should be taken when selecting a site as the tree has a strong tap root that can damage pipes.

Artocarpus(art-0-KARP-us)heterophyllus(het-er-oh-FIL-us)


Moraceae (mor-AY-see-ee)
Figs and Mulberries