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Grafted, evergreen. Self-fruitful; yellow fruits. Bears early and is an ideal container plant. Space outside @ 8' circle Zones 9-10.

Plant Characteristics
Pest Resistance	Excellent
Disease Resistance	Excellent
Drought Tolerance	Very Good
Heat Tolerance	Excellent
Humidity Tolerance	Excellent
Sun Tolerance	Excellent
Wet Soil Tolerance	Fair
Shade Tolerance	Good
No Spray	Excellent
Salt Tolerance	Good
Fun for Kids	Very Good
Plant Type	Shrub
Soil Type	Adaptable
Edible Type	Fruit
Self Fertile	Yes
this information is accurate to the best of our knowledge, comments/opinions are always welcome

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The star fruit or carambola (Averrhoa carambola), is a unique, waxy, golden yellow to green fruit that has a 5 pointed star shape when cut across the middle of the fruit. Star fruit can be eaten out of hand or sliced and used as a garnish or in salads. They are also used in chutney, curries and tarts. The juice can be used in tropical drinks and smoothies.

Outdoor care
Diseases

Star fruit are disease and insect resistant and grow in a less care fashion, especially if the tree maintains good health. Leaf spot diseases are caused by Cercospora Averrhoa Petch., Corynespora cassiicola Berk. And Curt., Phomopsis sp., Gloesporium sp> and Phyllosticta sp. Observations indicate these diseases are more common on stressed or nutritionally deficient trees and occur on older leaves that normally abscise (drop) during the winter and early spring. Twigs and limbs may be attacked by red alga (Cephaleuros virescens Kunze). Symptoms include rough circular greenish-gray or rusty-red areas and shoot dieback. Ripe fruit that is injured may be attacked by the fruit rotting fungus. (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Penz) which caused anthracnose. A superficial blackish discoloration on fruit (sooty mold) caused by Leptothyrium sp. May be found on fruit surfaces. Recently, the fungus Phthium splendens Braun has been identified as the cause of of general tree decline syndrome. Decline symptoms include loss of tree vigor, leaf drop, twig, shoot, and root die-back, and reduced fruit size and production. For more information and control measures, consult your county agricultural extension agent.

Pest

Carambola trees are attacked by a number of scale insects including Plumose [Philephedra tuberculosa(Nakahara and Gill)] scales which attack leaves and twigs causing defoliation and stem dieback. The weevil Diaprepes abbreviatus (L.) causes damage to the roots, which may lead to root and shoot dieback. Fruit damage caused by stink bugs (Nezara sp.) and squash bugs (Acanthocephala sp.) results in pinhole sized markings on the fruit surface and dry areas of the flesh under the puncture wounds. This may lead to infection by fungi which cause soft rot of the fruit. Fruit blotch miner (lepidoptera: Gracillaridae) causes a superficial damage to the waxy cuticle and can be identified by meandering brownish colored trails on the fruit surface. Brown scales [Coccus hesperidia (L.)] and red-banded thrips [Selenothrips rubrocinctus(Giard)] have also been observed feeding on carambola fruit. Birds, opossums, and raccoons may attack fruit especially early in the season. Their damage can be identified by the V-shaped marks left on the ribs of the fruit.

Outdoor
Fertilizer practices

Current fertilizer recommendations are based on observation,. In soils of low fertility, young trees 1 to 2 years old should receive light applications of a mixed fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (¼ to ½ lb @ tree per application) every 30 to 60 days until trees are well established. As trees mature, the fertilizer rate should increase (1 to 3 lbs @ tree per application) with an application frequency of 4 to 8 times per year. Fertilizer mixtures containing 6-8% nitrogen, 2-4% available phosphoric acid, 6-8% potash and 3-4% magnesium are satisfactory.

In acid to neutral pH soils, micronutrients such as manganese, zinc, and iron may be applied in dry applications to the soil or in a liquid form and sprayed onto the leaves. Three to 6 applications should be made per year. Trees growing in calcareous soils should receive 4 to 8 foliar applications @ year of zinc and manganese. Iron deficiency may be corrected by 3 to 6 yearly soil drench applications of cheated iron specifically formulated for calcareous soils.

Spacing and training
Trees should be planted on 15 to 20 foot centers in a sunny location. No special training is recommended.

Watering
The star fruit needs moist conditions and must receive regular watering in the summer and even during dry periods in the winter.

Pruning
The main purpose of pruning is to control size and secondarily shape.