Commercial Value & Uses: The Breadfruit Tree (Artocarpus altilis) is a tropical tree of immense economic and cultural importance. For wholesalers, it is a high-value product for nurseries, tropical fruit growers, and landscape architects in equatorial regions. Its primary commercial value lies in its production of large, nutritious, starchy fruit—a staple food source for millions. Ornamentally, its massive, dramatic foliage makes it a spectacular, fast-growing shade tree for large-scale, high-impact landscape projects.
Features & Appearance: This is a truly magnificent tree, characterized by its incredibly large, glossy, and deeply lobed leaves. The striking foliage, which can reach up to a meter in length, creates a dense, lush, and dramatic canopy with an unparalleled tropical texture. The tree grows quickly on a thick, sturdy trunk and produces the famous large, round, green fruit for which it is named, making it both beautiful and productive.
Applications & Occasions: The Breadfruit Tree is a cornerstone of tropical agriculture and agroforestry. It is ideally suited for orchards, food forests, and permaculture projects. As a landscape specimen, it is a premier choice for a fast-growing, dense shade tree in large public parks, botanical gardens, and spacious private estates within tropical climates (USDA Zones 10-12). It is the ultimate statement of lush, tropical abundance.
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Origin and Historical Background:Originating in New Guinea and the Malay Archipelago, the Breadfruit tree was spread throughout the Pacific by ancient voyagers and became a foundational food source across Oceania. Its history is famously intertwined with one of the greatest sea stories: the 1789 Mutiny on the Bounty, led by Fletcher Christian against Captain William Bligh, whose mission was to transport breadfruit trees from Tahiti to the Caribbean as an inexpensive food for enslaved people. This history underscores the tree's global importance as a vital food crop.
Health and Environmental Benefits:The Breadfruit is a powerhouse of sustainability and nutrition. The fruit itself is a rich source of complex carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, making it a healthy staple food that supports food security. As a large, fast-growing tree, it is a champion of carbon sequestration, absorbing significant amounts of CO₂. Its dense canopy provides cooling shade, reduces energy costs, enriches the soil with leaf litter, and creates a valuable habitat for wildlife.
Simple Care Guide:Our young Breadfruit trees are ready to be planted out and thrive with proper care.
Light: Requires Full Sun
. This is a non-negotiable requirement for healthy growth and fruit production.
Watering: This is a thirsty tropical tree. It needs regular and abundant moisture, especially when young and during dry periods. A deep Weekly
watering is a minimum guideline once established. Good drainage is essential.
Soil: Prefers deep, fertile, moist, and well-drained soil.
Climate: Crucial Note: The Breadfruit is an ultra-tropical tree and has no tolerance for frost. It requires a consistently warm and humid climate (USDA Zones 10-12) to survive and flourish.
Versatile Applications:Primarily a food source, a single mature Breadfruit tree can produce up to 200 kg of fruit per year, making it a pillar of sustainable living and local food movements. In landscape design, it is unparalleled for creating a quick, dense, and cooling shade canopy. Its enormous leaves provide a bold texture and scale that can anchor a tropical garden design, creating an instant jungle-like, prehistoric feel.
Key Advantages:
A Staple Food Source: Its ability to produce large quantities of nutritious, versatile fruit is its greatest value.
Magnificent Tropical Foliage: The enormous, deeply cut leaves create a dramatic and breathtakingly lush aesthetic.
Fast-Growing Shade Tree: It rapidly develops a wide, dense canopy, providing exceptional shade and cooling benefits to its surroundings.
Rich Historical Significance: From ancient Pacific cultures to famous naval mutinies, the tree has a fascinating story that adds to its appeal.
Origin and Historical Background:Originating in New Guinea and the Malay Archipelago, the Breadfruit tree was spread throughout the Pacific by ancient voyagers and became a foundational food source across Oceania. Its history is famously intertwined with one of the greatest sea stories: the 1789 Mutiny on the Bounty, led by Fletcher Christian against Captain William Bligh, whose mission was to transport breadfruit trees from Tahiti to the Caribbean as an inexpensive food for enslaved people. This history underscores the tree's global importance as a vital food crop.
Health and Environmental Benefits:The Breadfruit is a powerhouse of sustainability and nutrition. The fruit itself is a rich source of complex carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, making it a healthy staple food that supports food security. As a large, fast-growing tree, it is a champion of carbon sequestration, absorbing significant amounts of CO₂. Its dense canopy provides cooling shade, reduces energy costs, enriches the soil with leaf litter, and creates a valuable habitat for wildlife.
Simple Care Guide:Our young Breadfruit trees are ready to be planted out and thrive with proper care.
Light: Requires Full Sun
. This is a non-negotiable requirement for healthy growth and fruit production.
Watering: This is a thirsty tropical tree. It needs regular and abundant moisture, especially when young and during dry periods. A deep Weekly
watering is a minimum guideline once established. Good drainage is essential.
Soil: Prefers deep, fertile, moist, and well-drained soil.
Climate: Crucial Note: The Breadfruit is an ultra-tropical tree and has no tolerance for frost. It requires a consistently warm and humid climate (USDA Zones 10-12) to survive and flourish.
Versatile Applications:Primarily a food source, a single mature Breadfruit tree can produce up to 200 kg of fruit per year, making it a pillar of sustainable living and local food movements. In landscape design, it is unparalleled for creating a quick, dense, and cooling shade canopy. Its enormous leaves provide a bold texture and scale that can anchor a tropical garden design, creating an instant jungle-like, prehistoric feel.
Key Advantages:
A Staple Food Source: Its ability to produce large quantities of nutritious, versatile fruit is its greatest value.
Magnificent Tropical Foliage: The enormous, deeply cut leaves create a dramatic and breathtakingly lush aesthetic.
Fast-Growing Shade Tree: It rapidly develops a wide, dense canopy, providing exceptional shade and cooling benefits to its surroundings.
Rich Historical Significance: From ancient Pacific cultures to famous naval mutinies, the tree has a fascinating story that adds to its appeal.