Bloomipedia
Papaya (Carica papaya)
Photo: Damien Wallace via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

Papaya

Carica papaya

Not native to Hawaii

Papaya is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states.

2states
1,173HI sightings*
3,356U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Hawaii

Quick look

The papaya is the plant species Carica papaya, one of the 3 accepted species in the genus Carica of the family Caricaceae.

  • It belongs to the Caricaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a tree with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 2 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as not native to Hawaii. NatureServe
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as indeterminate. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 20 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 1,173 research-grade sightings of it in Hawaii, ranking #35 among the 105 flowers on our Hawaii list. iNaturalist

Papaya gift ideas

Handmade papaya gifts from independent makers.

🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.

  • Placeholder

    Papaya art print

    Gift pick coming soon

  • Placeholder

    Papaya greeting card

    Gift pick coming soon

  • Placeholder

    Papaya mug

    Gift pick coming soon

  • Placeholder

    Papaya earrings

    Gift pick coming soon

  • Placeholder

    Papaya embroidery pattern

    Gift pick coming soon

  • Placeholder

    Papaya sticker

    Gift pick coming soon

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (53 records)

There are only a handful of Hawaii flowering records, so this chart uses records from across the U.S.

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. NatureServe
Hawaii
Not listed Not on Hawaii threatened and endangered plants (HAR 13-107; the state list follows the federal list), DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Hawaii. HAR 13-107
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records papaya in 2 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Florida, Hawaii.

Hawaii counties with USDA records: Hawaii, Honolulu, Kauai.

More Hawaii flowers

ʻōhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha)

ʻōhiʻa lehua

Metrosideros polymorpha

Native

🌼 Blooms in HI: January–December
Beach naupaka (Scaevola taccada)

Beach naupaka

Scaevola taccada

Native

🌼 Blooms in HI: January–December
Pūkiawe (Leptecophylla tameiameiae)

Pūkiawe

Leptecophylla tameiameiae

🌼 Blooms in HI: January–December

Sources