How to grow Star Fruit
Updated October 2026
Star fruit, or carambola, is a fast-growing tropical tree with crisp, juicy, star-shaped fruit that crops twice a year in Florida. It suits warm, frost-free spots in South Florida, sheltered coastal pockets of Central Florida and Hawaii. Health warning: people with kidney disease should not eat star fruit unless their doctor says it is safe.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Star Fruit
Where to plant
Carambola grows best between about 68°F and 95°F and stops growing below about 65°F. It needs full sun, well-drained soil, continuous access to soil moisture and protection from wind. Trees planted too close to other trees or buildings grow poorly and fruit less because of shade.
Cold damage starts early: young leaves can be killed at 30°F to 32°F, young trees at 27°F to 29°F, and even mature trees at 20°F to 24°F. In Florida, UF/IFAS lists warm coastal areas such as Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Monroe, Collier and Lee Counties, plus protected spots around Tampa Bay, Merritt Island and parts of Brevard, Pinellas, Highlands and Polk Counties.
- South Florida: plant from late winter through summer in full sun, sheltered from wind.
- Central Florida: only in warm, protected coastal or lakeside spots. Plant in spring and cover young trees on frost nights.
- Hawaii: grows well in warm lowlands. Plant in spring or fall.
- Everywhere else: too cold outdoors. A dwarf tree can be grown in a large pot moved into a heated space for winter.
Choosing a variety
Arkin and Kary are the main sweet varieties in Florida, with Fwang Tung and B-10 as minor ones. Sweet types are best for eating fresh; tart types are good for cooking, and some, such as Golden Star, turn sweet if fully ripened on the tree. Some varieties set more fruit with a second variety nearby for cross-pollination.
How to plant
- Buy a grafted tree that is not root bound in its pot.
- Choose a sunny, wind-sheltered spot well away from other trees and buildings.
- Dig a hole three to four times as wide as the container and set the tree so the top of the root ball is level with or slightly above the surrounding soil.
- Water in thoroughly and mulch widely, keeping mulch off the trunk.
Watering and feeding
Keep young trees watered regularly. Once trees begin to bear, usually 1 to 2 years after planting, water regularly from flowering through harvest. Drought causes leaf folding, leaf drop, fewer flowers and small fruit.
Feed young trees lightly and often with a fruit tree fertilizer that includes minor elements during the warm months. In alkaline soils, yellow leaves with green veins point to iron or manganese shortage, which a minor-element spray or soil treatment corrects.
Pruning and care through the year
- In the first 1 to 2 years, tip shoots longer than 2 to 3 feet to encourage branching.
- Prune mature trees to keep them about 6 to 12 feet tall, which makes harvest easier and cuts storm damage.
- Carambola can be pruned to bring on off-season fruit: pruning whips in August can give fruit in October.
Harvesting
Star fruit does not get sweeter after picking, so for the best flavor pick when the fruit turns from green to yellow in the furrows between the ribs, while the tips of the ribs are still slightly green. Fruit takes about 60 to 75 days from set to maturity. Handle it gently, as bruised fruit is attacked by anthracnose rot.
In Florida, the main crops are from late June through September and from November into February. Store ripe fruit in the fridge for about a week.
Growing in pots
Outside the warmest areas, a young carambola can be kept in a large container, at least 24 inches (60 cm) wide, and moved into a bright, heated space for winter. Container trees rarely fruit as heavily as those in the ground.
Using it
Slice crosswise into stars for salads, fruit platters and drinks, or eat it whole; the waxy skin is edible. Tart types are used in chutneys and preserves. Do not eat star fruit if you have kidney disease, unless your doctor has said it is safe, as it can cause a rapid decline in kidney function.
Pests and diseases
Fruit flies and stink bugs damage fruit, and anthracnose rots injured fruit in wet weather.
Pests to watch for
- Caribbean fruit fly Maggots in ripening fruit; pick fruit as soon as it is ready.
- Stink bugs Small dark, sunken spots and deformed fruit where bugs have fed.
- Scale insects Small bumps on twigs and leaves, often with sooty mold.
Diseases to watch for
- Anthracnose Dark, sunken rotting spots on ripe or injured fruit and spots on leaves in wet weather.
Common questions
Is star fruit safe to eat?
For most people, yes. But people diagnosed with kidney disease should not eat star fruit unless their doctor says it is safe, as it can cause a rapid decline in kidney function.
Where can I grow star fruit in the US?
Outdoors in South Florida, warm protected spots in Central Florida, and Hawaii. Young trees are killed at about 27°F to 29°F, so it does not suit areas with regular freezes.
When is star fruit ripe?
When the fruit turns from green to yellow in the grooves between the ribs while the rib tips are still a little green. It does not sweeten after picking, so leave it on the tree until then.
How many times a year does star fruit produce?
In Florida, usually twice: from late June through September and from November into February. Pruning can also bring on off-season fruit.
How big does a carambola tree get?
It grows fast and can get fairly large, but it is usually pruned to about 6 to 12 feet, which keeps fruit within reach and reduces storm damage.
Sources we checked: UF/IFAS: Carambola growing in the Florida home landscape (MG269); UF/IFAS Ask IFAS topic: Carambola.
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