Jackfruit Trees: How to Grow and Care for Jackfruit Trees

The jackfruit tree (Artocarpus heterophyllus), also known by the common name jack tree, is a tropical fruit tree in the Moraceae family that is a relative of breadfruit, mulberry, and fig trees. Jackfruit leaves are dark green and glossy, and the trees are monoecious, meaning they have both male flowers and female flowers on the same tree. Jackfruit trees are native to southwest India and can produce 100 to 200 jackfruits a year, grow well in the tropical climates of the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, and Bangladesh, where jackfruit is the national fruit.

Jackfruit is an edible fruit produced by the jackfruit tree that has green, bumpy skin on the outside and yellow, fibrous flesh inside. The largest tree-borne fruit in the world, jackfruit can grow up to three feet long and reach one hundred pounds. Jackfruit primarily grows in India and throughout Southeast Asia and parts of Africa and Brazil. In the United States, it can grow in Florida and Hawaii. Jackfruit is often sold fresh as a whole fruit, frozen, or canned in syrup, water, or brine. The fleshy petals of the unripe fruit make a great meat substitute for vegetarians. The ripe fruit has a much sweeter taste that works well in desserts like ice cream.

Raw, ripe jackfruit tastes like other sweet, fibrous fruits like pineapple or mango. When eaten unripe, green jackfruit has more of a bland taste. Unripe jackfruit is the perfect addition to savory dishes like soups or curries to soak up the flavors or function as a vegan meat substitute. When cooked, jackfruit has a meaty texture, like pulled pork. The edible seeds taste similar to macadamia or Brazil nuts when boiled or roasted.

Jackfruit seedlings can be fragile, so the easiest way to grow them at home is to purchase a small tree (often propagated by grafting) at your local garden center. Here’s what to do once you’ve brought your tree home.

• Choose a well-draining soil. Jackfruit trees will do best in sandy or loamy soils with a higher pH soil. Learn how to adjust soil pH in your garden.
• Provide full sun. Jackfruit trees will perform best with full, direct sunlight, so choose a location that is free of shade.
• Prune only to shape your tree. Your jackfruit tree won’t require pruning, but you can prune back the branches if it gets too large.
• Plant during the late spring or early summer. Try to plant your jackfruit tree in the warmer months to help the young tree establish itself. In hot climates, planting can happen year-round.
• Fertilize during the growing season. You can fertilize your young jackfruit tree right after you transplant it into your garden to help it establish itself in its new home. Fertilize mature trees during the growing season after they bloom.
• Water regularly during dry periods. Water your jackfruit tree regularly, especially when conditions are dry. In addition to regular watering, applying mulch to the tree’s base can help the soil retain moisture.
• Limit the amount of fruit on the tree. Jackfruit trees produce fruit in the summer and fall, which ripens before winter. Mature, heavy jackfruit can weigh down the branches of a tree. To avoid snapping branches, let only one fruit per limb ripen fully—harvest the rest while immature.

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