Caimito is a perennial grown for its fruit. It's hardy across USDA zones 10 through 11. Its flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees, even though the fruit is the prize.
Zones
10-11
pH Range
4.4-7.5
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score Caimito on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether caimito actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score caimito against your land's real conditions.
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What Caimito is
Caimito grows as a perennial.
How to grow Caimito
Caimito grows in USDA zones 10 through 11. Caimito does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.4 to 7.5, on well-drained ground. It needs a growing season of at least 180 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
10-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.4 - 7.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
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Drainage
well (dry spells)
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Frost Tolerance
53.6°F
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Frost-Free Days
180+
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Start the season right
Plant caimito in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Caimito prefers pH 4.4 to 7.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at maturity
Pick when the fruit is full-colored and parts easily from the stem. Local Cooperative Extension guides publish timing tables.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — caimito isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Caimito offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Caimito thrives
Caimito is hardy across USDA zones 10 through 11. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 10–11·Where Caimito growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Caimito can grow in these states:
See if Caimito will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether caimito actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Caimito in my zone?
Caimito grows in USDA hardiness zones 10 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Caimito?
Most growers plant caimito after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 180-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Caimito need?
Caimito needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Caimito need?
Caimito prefers soil pH 4.4 to 7.5, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Caimito attract pollinators?
Yes — caimito's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Caimito safe for pets?
Caimito is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.