JunglePlants

This mountain hybrid Papaya comes from the highlands of Ecuador and thrives in a cool subtropical climate, free of frost. The babaco is much more tolerant of cool, damp winters than the papaya. It will withstand temperatures to about 28° F in very short bursts, although it may lose most of its leaves. The babaco is ideally suited to container culture and also excellent for greenhouses in a sunny spot.

Eventually growing to about 6 feet in height it does not branch and during the cold winter months the leaves degenerate and are usually shed below 12C but will keep growing if kept warmer. As these plants are vegetatively propagated they only produce self fertile female flowers. The excellent large seedless fruits, to 12" long ripen in the late autumn to winter depending on the season. The flesh of the babaco is very juicy, slightly acidic and low in sugar with a unique flavour that has been described as having overtones of strawberry, pineapple and papaya. New growth from the base should be only encouraged when the old stem has become too old to be productive.