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Carica papaya

Carica papaya

Found in Coastal hammocks, shell middens, disturbed areas, much cultivated but also apparently native. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Florida edition What its natural habitat tells you

32
Good

Native to Florida. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 24%

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At a glance

Not yet recorded · Height · Spread · Light · Soil · Life cycle · Leaves · Bloom

This plant is missing most of its facts, so Quercus is looking them up in old botany books.

Recorded in 27 Florida counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

1 of 2

Coastal Plain hammocks

Dense, evergreen groves of live oak, magnolia and other hardwoods in the southern Coastal Plain, from dry oak domes to wet hydric hammocks and south Florida's tropical hammocks; salt-shaped maritime hammocks are maritime forests.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

9CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including FL

Genus host records with ranges including FL · Carica

  • Ascia monusteGreat Southern White
  • Erechthias minusculaCaribbean Scavenger Moth
  • Erinnyis alopeAlope Sphinx
  • Erinnyis elloEllo Sphinx
  • Erinnyis lassauxiiLassaux's Sphinx
  • Feltia repletaReplete Dart
  • Helicoverpa zeaCorn Earworm Moth
  • Platynota rostranaOmnivorous Platynota
  • Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
0BeesSoutheastern regional records
0Specialist beesPollen specialists
—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
CARICACEAE

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Conservation status

Florida rankSNA
Global rankNot available
FL statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source

In your garden

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Sources