What fruit tree is capable of motion?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

August 22, 2002

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American Persimmon, Manchurian Bush Apricot, Hardy Outdoor Fig—>Click here.

Hardy Mulberry Tree, Pawpaw, Arctic Beauty Kiwi Collection—>Click here.

The starfruit or carambola (Averrhoa carambola Linnaeus) is a small tree in the Oxalidaceae or wood sorrel family. The family has only seven genera, but an estimated nine hundred species worldwide. Most of the species are shrubby or herbaceous and grown as ornamentals or cursed as weeds.

Plant of the Week 02/05/2007

Starfruit (Averrhoa carambola)
Plant of the Week 02/05/2007

The starfruit inflorescence arises in the leaf axil; on old wood; the inflorescence is adjacent to an old leaf scar. The small five-petaled flowers are purple to pink with 10 stamens. The stamens are in two whorls; the outer whorl are fertile (produce pollen), the inner stamens lack anthers and are technically staminodes.

Starfruit are large, fleshy, ribbed berries. Depending upon the variety, starfruit range from sour to sweet, although the sweet varieties contain only about four percent sugar (J. F. Morton, 1987, New Crop, Purdue University). The common name refers to the cross-sectional slices--a five-pointed star.

The leaves of carambola are odd-pinnate having five to eleven glossy leaflets. The leaves are capable of movement, both nyctinastic (night position) and thigmonastic (mechanical or touch position). The leaflets 'wilt' or droop through the night hours. When the rachis is stroked or pounded by rain, the leaflets also move to the wilted position. Rain or dew forms beads which roll off the tips of the leaflets. This appears to keep the leaflets clean possibly reducing infections from fungi and bacteria.

The University of Hawaii-Manoa has beautiful photographs of Averrhoa carambola and other members of the Oxalidaceae taken by Gerald Carr. To view the photographs, click on the link:

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/oxalid.htm

Click on the thumbnails to enlarge the images.

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Unique Professionally Designed Gardens

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Spring Hill Nursery has unique gardens professionally designed by experts to take the guesswork out of gardening. Whether you are looking for a three season garden, foundation garden, or a garden to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, Spring Hill Nursery has created a step-by-step design just for you. Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!

American Persimmon

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

A Favorite for Preserves!

American Persimmon doesn’t deserve its puckery reputation!

Fruit starts out with a tangy apricotlike flavor, but develops a rich sweetness after first frost. 36-60 ft. tree is lovely enough to be grown as an ornamental, with golden fall foliage, and attractive deep orange fruit that will hang till mid-winter, lending color to the winter landscape. Plant 2 for pollination.

Our persimmons are grown using the Rocket Root™ method which ensures the highest quality, healthiest tree for you. Concept based on keeping the most important part of the tree- the roots, intact. Fast establishment equals fruit up to two years sooner. 2- to 3-foot trees. Zones 5-9. Not available in CA. Click here - $20 off any order for $50 or more at Gurneys.com!

Manchurian Bush Apricot

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Big Fruits in Small Spaces!

Gurney's Choice Sets a big, bumper crop of red-blushed golden fruit that ripens in July. Compact size--grows 10 feet tall and bears in 2-3 years.

Plant 2 for proper pollination and top crops. 2- to 3-foot trees.

Zones: 3 - 9 (-30° F.)

This Item Ships In The Spring Click here - $20 off any order for $50 or more at Gurneys.com!

Comments: Rootstock: Gurneys-Prunus armeniaca, Field's persica or Prunus armeniaca. Sweet, juicy, freestone flesh. Tolerates heat and cold. Blooms before it leafs out. Very vigorous, thrives almost anywhere. Bears young and heavily. Self-fruitful but produces better in a group of 2 or 3. Fertilize after the tree has reached bearing age. Not grafted, it is a seedling.

Many of the fruits are native species that grow wild in various parts of the country. They are very adaptable and generally carefree. A few are delicious when eaten fresh; others make excellent desserts and wines. Native Fruits - $20 off any order for $50 or more at Gurneys.com!

Hardy Outdoor Fig

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Ideal Decorator Plant!

Even Northerners have good luck with this fig! Compact enough to put in a patio tub that moves indoors for winter. Bears gold-brown fruit. Plump figs are tasty fresh, a favorite for baking.

No. 1 plants.

Zones: 6 - 10 ( 0° F.)

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Comments: Thrives indoors and out. Often bears the first year. Fruit is sweet, juicy, fine-grained, firm, meaty flesh with a sugary, rich flavor. Called 'Hardy Outdoor Fig' in Gurney's and 'Hardy Everbearing Fig' in Field's.

Many of the fruits are native species that grow wild in various parts of the country. They are very adaptable and generally carefree. A few are delicious when eaten fresh; others make excellent desserts and wines. Native Fruits - $20 off any order for $50 or more at Gurneys.com!

Hardy Mulberry Tree

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Bunches of Juicy Black Fruit!

Juicy, purple-black berries produce mouthwatering jelly and deep purple wine. Hardy 25-to 40-footer is fast growing and fine for shade. Fruit ripens in late July.

You get 2 plants for proper pollination.

Zones: 4 - 8 (-20° F.)

This Item Ships In The Spring Click here - $20 off any order for $50 or more at Gurneys.com!

Comments: Juicy, black berries. Withstands drought and salt. Fruit is similar in size and shape to blackberry. Generally bears heavy, reliable crops. Very easy to grow, usually does well without any care. Foliage and unripe fruit may be poisonous. Hardy to -25 degrees F.

Many of the fruits are native species that grow wild in various parts of the country. They are very adaptable and generally carefree. A few are delicious when eaten fresh; others make excellent desserts and wines. Native Fruits - $20 off any order for $50 or more at Gurneys.com!

Pawpaw

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Fresh Banana/Custard Flavor!

Growing 15-30 ft. tall, pawpaws make attractive specimen trees with a pyramidal shape and big, tropical-looking leaves that put on a spectacular golden show in the fall. The 3-5-inch fruits will darken in the late summer-that's when the luscious flavor is at its peak! Our pawpaws are grown in Quick-Pro pots, which allow more feeder roots to develop than on field-grown trees. More feeder roots mean very little setback after transplanting, allowing your tree to bear fruit up to 2 years before standard trees!

Zones: 5 - 9 (-10° F.)

This Item Ships In Both Spring And Fall Click here - $20 off any order for $50 or more at Gurneys.com!

Comments: Tree is shipped as a #1 plant, 6-18" of top growth (growth above the root system). Fruit is 3-5 inches with 3-7 per cluster. Fruit is soft, yellow. It has a custard-like pulp and banana-like taste. Can be potted. Fruit is high in unsaturated fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and amino acids. Pest and disease free. Foliage turns yellow in the fall. Self-fruitful but plant two for better production. Lives up to 80 years.

Many of the fruits are native species that grow wild in various parts of the country. They are very adaptable and generally carefree. A few are delicious when eaten fresh; others make excellent desserts and wines. Native Fruits - $20 off any order for $50 or more at Gurneys.com!

Arctic Beauty Kiwi Collection

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Non-Fuzzy, Eat Like Grapes!

Eat these sweet, delicious, bright green kiwis just like grapes-the medium size fruit has smooth skin! Male plant must be planted for cross-pollination-only the female plant produces fruit. Striking variegated foliage is especially intense in the male plant, with a hot pink, cream and emerald-green pattern. Usually reaches peak color within 2-3 years of planting. vines do not reach as far as other kiwis, making it easier to train on a fence or trellis.

Save $3.91! Get one female and one male Arctic Beauty Hardy kiwi plants for a bountiful crop of delicious, sweet fruit! Zones: 4 - 9 (-20° F.)

This Item Ships In Both Spring And Fall Click here - $20 off any order for $50 or more at Gurneys.com!

Comments: Usually 1-2 years before variegated leaf color becomes evident; excessive shade and fertilizer reduce leaf coloration. Transplants readily. Tolerates any soil type. Very vigorous, needs considerable pruning. Relatively disease-free. Mulch to retain moisture and keep soil cool. Refrigerate after harvest but store at room temperature a couple of days before use for best flavor. Needs a trellis system. Flowers on one year old wood. May take 7-10 years for them to bear.

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