Botanical family: Moraceae

Artocarpus altilis, Artocarpus communis

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

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Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) is a large tree, typically growing to over 20 ft tall, and requires full sun exposure. It is suitable for growing in USDA hardiness zones 10-11, where temperatures remain above 55F for most of the year. It should be watered regularly and grows best in a loamy soil that drains quickly. In cold regions, it is best to grow this tree in a large pot with well-draining soil to provide enough space for it to grow. If the tree is grown in a pot for an extended period, it is important to repot it periodically to prevent the roots from becoming cramped.

The breadfruit tree produces large fruits that vary in size and shape, ranging from 3 to 18 inches long. The skin of the unripe fruit is green, turning yellow or yellow-brown when ripe. The creamy white to yellow pulp inside is pasty, sweetly fragrant, and has a somewhat soft texture. The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked and is rich in carbohydrates, making it a dietary staple in some parts of the world, particularly Polynesia. In the West Indies, a decoction of the tree's leaves is used to lower elevated blood pressure and relieve asthma. The shoots, bark, and latex also have medicinal uses.

The breadfruit tree is fast growing, reaching up to 80-100 ft in height with a trunk up to 6 ft in diameter. However, some varieties are smaller. The leaves, which can be either evergreen or deciduous depending on the climate, are ovate and up to 3 ft long with deeply cut, pointed lobes. They are bright green and glossy on the upper surface, with conspicuous yellow veins and dull, yellowish, and coated with minute, stiff hairs on the underside. The flowers are tiny and similar to those of the jackfruit tree. Male flowers are densely set on a drooping spike 5 to 12 inches long, initially yellow and becoming brown. Female flowers are massed in a rounded or elliptic, green head about 3 inches long, which develops into the compound fruit. The fruit can be oblong, cylindrical, ovoid, rounded, or pear-shaped and ranges from 3 to 18 inches in length. Generally, the fruit is green at first and turns yellow or yellow-brown when ripe. When fully ripe, the fruit is somewhat soft, and the interior is cream-colored or yellow and pasty, with a sweet fragrance. All parts of the tree, including the unripe fruit, contain milky, gummy latex. There are two main types of breadfruit: the normal, "wild" type (cultivated in some areas) with seeds and little pulp, and the "cultivated" (more widely grown) seedless type. However, occasionally a few fully developed seeds are found in seedless cultivars. The seeds are oval, about 3/4 inch long, dull brown with darker stripes. The moist inner pulp of seedless breadfruit is eaten after cooking and has the taste and texture of potatoes. The seeds of the seeded breadnut form can be cooked by boiling or roasting.

Artocarpus camansi

Seeded breadfruit is a large tree, to 100 feet tall, with large, spreading branches and a straight trunk with smooth gray bark. Leaves large, 16-20 inches wide and 24-35 inches long, with shallow lobes. All parts of the tree contain abundant white latex. Monecious, with axillary inflorescences. Male inflorescence elongated, 1-1.5 inches wide and 6-10 inches long, female inflorescence globose, 2-3 inches wide and 3-4 inches long. Fruits large, spheroid, 4-12 inches in diameter, green and covered with soft spines. Fruits contain between 20-60 rounded or flattened seeds, about 1 inch long. Immature fruits are cooked as a vegetable with coconut milk. Seeds are soft, edible and delicious, and may be boiled or roasted.

Artocarpus dadah

The leaves measures about 15-30 cm, leathery and oblong with asymmetrical leaf base. The twigs, leaf stalks and undersides of leaves are covered by soft hair. The underside of leaves are also somewhat glaucous. Juveniles have deeply lobed leaves while mature trees have entire leaves. The fruits are 5-9 cm, pale green with deep pink flesh, finely velvety and appearing smooth.

Artocarpus elasticus

There is another similar species Artocarpus scortechinii with similar character except the leaves are slightly smaller, making it possible to confuse these two species in the field. If fruits are available the distinction is easier, Artocarpus scortechinii does not have the shaggy fruits that Artocarpus elasticus has.

Artocarpus glaucus

Artocarpus heterophyllus, Artocarpus integrifolius

The largest tree-borne fruit in the world, reaching 80 pounds in weight and up to 36 inches long and 20 inches in diameter. The interior of the fruit consists of large edible bulbs of yellow, sweet, banana-flavored aromatic flesh. As the fruit ripen at the bottom of the trunk, this tree can be (and should be) pruned annually to 7-12' producing as much as 200 Lbs of fruit per year. Seedlings start fruiting within 3-4 years. Mature Jackfruit tree produces hundreds of pounds of fruit every year. Fruit ripen pretty quickly, 4-6 months from flower to maturity.

The tree is not as cold sensitive as it is thought to be, according to our experience. Mature trees can take some light freeze, smaller plants must be protected. Of course the compact size of the tree (especially when heavily pruned) makes cold protection much easier. Trees can be covered in case of cold, or even grown in large pots in cooler climates. You can't buy this in grocery store, so growing your own is the only option to try this tropical deliciousness! The plant requires soil rich of organic matter and regular watering. See article about Artocarpus heterophyllus