Carica papaya

Carica papaya, Papaya, the tropical tree that bears the familiar fruit of the same name originates in Central America and Northern South America. It is now a mono-specific genus after all the other species were transferred to other genera, mostly Vasconcellea. A quick-growing plant, Carica papaya rapidly forms a sculptural exotic specimen - the epitome of the tropical look - with large, lobed, umbrella-like leaves and a tall central stem. Grown throughout the tropics for its fruit and commonly grown outdoors in warm temperate climates like New Zealand, it is very frost-sensitive and in the UK and Northern Europe must be brought indoors for the winter. Although it is unlikely your plant will form edible fruit, half the fun of growing it is to try. It's fun to grow it even as an annual bedding plant and at the very least you have a rapidly-growing exotic ornamental for your jungle.

Outdoors in the summer it needs a warm sheltered aspect with full sun or partial shade and a rich fertile soil. It does not like standing water around its roots and the soil must be well-drained. Bring indoors in early October and house in a frost-free environment gradually reducing its water intake as it adjusts to the lower light levels and cooler drier atmosphere. Keep it as humid as possible but stop watering it altogether in the coldest darkest months. If it gets too cold indoors or too dark it will probably lose its leaves. This tendency to defoliate is relatively common as it struggles with adjusting to the new conditions. It can often also experience transplanting setback so growing it in as large a container as you can manage is useful. The container can be taken outdoors again once all danger of frost has passed - from May to early June depending on your location.