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Summary

Evergreen flowering tree.

Physical Characteristics

Gustavia superba is an evergreen Tree growing to 15 m (49ft) by 12 m (39ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Bees.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Gustavia insignis Hook. Pirigara superba Kunth

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses:

The pulp of the fruit is rich in vitamin A[307 ]. It is considered a delicacy in Colombia[307 ]. The orange-coloured globose fruit is up to 9 x 10cm[200 ].

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

None known

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Houseplant Wood

Design: Small flowering tree; humid shade garden; accent; large pot/planter; courtyard; conservatory. The heartwood is reddish brown; the thick sapwood nearly white with darker or nearly black streaks[551 ]. The wood is straight and fine-grained, hard, heavy, strong and tough. It splits and works rather easily; takes an excellent polish[551 ]. It is used, to a limited extent, for construction[551 ].

Special Uses

Carbon Farming Food Forest

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Management: Standard Regional Crop Staple Crop: Oil

A plant for the humid, lowland tropics, where it is mainly found at elevations below 600 metres, though also extends to over 1,000 metres. It is intolerant of temperatures lower than 5°c[200 ]. Prefers a moist, rich, slightly acid soil in light shade[200 , 307 ]. Can have problems with iron deficiencies.

Carbon Farming

Management: Standard Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
Regional Crop These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.
Staple Crop: Oil (0-15 percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Some of these are consumed whole while others are exclusively pressed for oil. Annuals include canola, poppyseed, maize, cottonseed, sunflower, peanut. Perennials include high-oil fruits, seeds, and nuts, such as olive, coconut, avocado, oil palm, shea, pecan, and macadamia. Some perennial oil crops are consumed whole as fruits and nuts, while others are exclusively pressed for oil (and some are used fresh and for oil).

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Celsius Fahrenheit:

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

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Propagation

Seed; Layers

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Sachamango, Paco, Stinkwood, Manteco, Membrillo, Chope, Chupo, Tuba, Heaven lotus.

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Asia, Australia, Central America*, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Indonesia, Myanmar, Panama, SE Asia, Singapore, South America*

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so itâ€™s worth checking.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

Expert comment

Author

(Kunth) O.Berg

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

Gustavia superba - (Kunth) O.Berg