Carambola (Star Fruit) Trees, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida
Star fruit, or carambola, is a compact backyard fruit tree that flowers and fruits more than once a year and does well in the warmest, sunniest Southwest Florida yards. Sliced fruit makes five-pointed stars. It needs full sun, shelter from wind, and a spot away from frost. Our crew plants 7 and 25 gallon trees at the right depth after delivery.
- Light:
- Full sun to part shade
- Water:
- Regular; not drought tolerant
- Salt:
- Low, not for oceanfront or brackish irrigation
Carambola (Star Fruit) sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Plant | Sizes |
|---|---|
| Carambola (Star Fruit) | 7 Gallon, 25 Gallon |
Carambola (Star Fruit) in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 20 to 30 ft tall and 20 to 25 ft wide; easily held near 12 ft with annual pruning
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Regular; not drought tolerant
- Salt tolerance
- Low, not for oceanfront or brackish irrigation
- Cold tolerance
- Tender: frost and freezing weather damage it badly and can kill young trees, so cover them on frost nights
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Spacing
- At least 15 ft from the house and other trees
- Florida native
- No, native to tropical Asia
- Botanical name
- Averrhoa carambola
Where Carambola (Star Fruit) works in a SW Florida yard
Carambola suits a small yard because annual pruning holds it near 12 ft, so the fruit stays in reach. Plant it in a sunny spot sheltered from wind, such as the south side of a house or inside a fence, and keep it off salty canal edges.
Lychee, longan and Surinam cherry share its sun and regular water, which makes a mixed fruit planting easy to care for.
- Backyard fruit tree
- Edible landscape accent
- Fresh-eating star fruit
- Small mixed orchards
How our crew plants it
Choose full sun and well-drained soil, sheltered from wind. Plant it no deeper than it grew in the container, in a hole twice as wide, and backfill with native sand. Water in, mulch off the trunk, and stake only if the tree rocks.
Extra watering is fine at first: Lee and Collier allow it for new plantings, so keep the soil moist, not soggy.
Care after planting
- Water regularly, because carambola is not drought tolerant, and keep moisture steady between flowering and harvest.
- Feed young trees every 30 to 60 days and mature trees four to six times a year with a mixed fertilizer that includes magnesium and micronutrients, switching to micronutrient-only products during the June 1 to September 30 nitrogen and phosphorus ban.
- Prune lightly each year to hold the tree near 12 ft, which also makes it tougher in wind.
- Cover young trees on frost nights.
What to watch for
- Star fruit is dangerous for people with kidney problems, who should not eat the fruit or drink its juice.
- Scale insects, stink bugs, leaf spot and root rot in wet ground are the common problems, so plant on well-drained soil and check the leaves in spring.
Carambola (Star Fruit) questions we hear
Can you grow carambola in Cape Coral and Fort Myers?+
Yes, in warm, sheltered yards. Carambola performs best between about 68 and 95°F and is damaged by freezing weather, so choose a sunny spot out of the wind, cover young trees on frost nights, and keep it off direct salt spray. Coastal Lee and Collier yards usually do better than inland ones like Lehigh Acres.
When does carambola fruit in Florida?+
Carambola blooms in spring and again in early fall, with fruit peaking from August through September and again from December through February. A healthy tree can carry fruit in more than one flush a year. Pick fruit when the skin is mostly yellow.
How big does a carambola tree get, and can I keep it small?+
Left alone, carambola reaches 20 to 30 ft tall and 20 to 25 ft wide. Light annual pruning holds it near 12 ft, and a tree that size handles wind better. Plant it at least 15 ft from the house and other trees, and prune after the main harvest.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Carambola (Star Fruit)
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
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We deliver and plant across Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Estero, Bonita Springs and about an hour around.