Artocarpus heterophyllusJackfruit Tree

The Artocarpus heterophyllus, commonly known as the Jackfruit Tree, is a large evergreen tree from the Western Ghats of southern India, now grown across the humid tropics. It carries a dense dome of leathery dark green leaves on a stout trunk, and produces the largest fruit of any tree in the world, borne directly on the trunk and main limbs rather than out among the branches.

In landscape work it is planted for deep shade and for the spectacle of the fruit, in parks, agroforestry blocks and generous residential grounds where there is room for the litter it drops.

Specifications

• Height10 to 20 metres
• Width6 to 10 metres
• Native toThe Western Ghats of southern India, and widely cultivated across tropical Asia
• FoliageLarge, leathery, glossy dark green leaves held densely; evergreen
• Growth rateFast

Conditions

• SoilPrefers deep, well-drained loam; will not tolerate waterlogging or shallow soils
• LightFull sun
• WaterModerate; regular through dry periods, particularly while fruiting
• ClimateThrives in tropical and warm subtropical regions

Additional Features

• FlowersSmall greenish flowers borne in dense heads on the trunk and older wood
• FruitVery large, knobbly green fruit, the heaviest borne on any tree, ripening on the trunk and main limbs
• UsesIdeal for deep shade in parks and large grounds, agroforestry blocks, and productive landscape planting
• SpacingPlant 8 to 12 metres apart to allow the crown to develop fully
• Low MaintenanceNeeds little routine care once established, though fallen fruit requires clearing
• Pest ResistanceGenerally robust in a suitable climate
• Frost SensitivityDamaged by frost at any age and unsuited to cold-winter sites
• VersatilityServes as a shade tree, a fruit tree, and a canopy layer over understorey planting

The Jackfruit Tree is a fast shade canopy with a genuine spectacle attached, suited to open ground rather than tight paved settings.