Starfruit Carambola - Honeyed Iron Star
Starfruit Carambola (Averrhoa carambola)
Super rare variety!
First time in NZ!! Our variety came directly from our own orchard in Malaysia and is called Honeyed Star. They offer an extra-large fruit with a juicy sweet taste similar to a sweet tangy pineapple juice. Honeyed Star is also self-fertile so you only need one plant to fruit.
One thing you can't fail to notice about the carambola: it is star shaped. Which accounts for its other name of star fruit. And it's a star anyway thanks to its lovely taste. The green to yellow skin hides a colourless, transparent flesh that is bursting with flavour: deliciously fresh and mildly sweet. The skin is edible.
We know exactly where you can find the best carambolas: in Malaysia!! They are larger than varieties grown elsewhere in the world. When you harvest your carambola, don't worry about the sour aroma. The fruit will continue to ripen naturally in the fruit bowl.
Plant Care
- Soil: Prefers well-drained, loamy or sandy soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5.
- Watering: Maintain consistent moisture without waterlogging. More frequent watering may be necessary in dry conditions.
- Temperature: Ideal temperatures are between 20°C and 30°C. Protect from temperatures below 4°C.
- Light: Requires full sun for best fruit production.
- Fertilising: Use a fruit tree fertilizer with a ratio such as 8-3-9, applied every three months during the growing season. Ensure it includes micronutrients like magnesium and zinc.
- Pruning: Prune to maintain structure, remove dead or diseased wood, and to encourage air circulation.
- Mulching: Apply organic mulch around the base to retain soil moisture and reduce temperature fluctuations.
- Pest Control: Watch for pests like fruit flies and caterpillars. Employ appropriate organic pest control methods.
- Flowering and Fruiting: Produces clusters of pink to lavender flowers, followed by oblong, ribbed fruits. The fruit typically matures within 60 to 75 days after flowering.
- Potting: Suitable for container growth if given a large enough pot to accommodate its root system.
- Feeding Regime: High potassium and low nitrogen levels during the flowering and fruiting stages can enhance fruit quality and yield.
We ship our plants and garden supplies throughout New Zealand. Due to the increased costs of shipping and packaging, we now apply a minimal delivery charge. After offering free shipping for three consecutive years, we find it necessary to adjust this policy to align with current market conditions. However, we have lowered our prices to help offset this change.
Please note, we do not ship plants or garden supplies internationally from New Zealand. We do export plants and tissue culture materials from our overseas nursery, which requires a minimum order. Please contact us at hello@exoticanz.com to discuss your specific requirements.
Shipping (per plant)
Auckland & Northland: $20
Rest of North Island: $25
South Island: $45
Rural Address: Additional $5
Shipping Garden Supplies
Auckland & Northland: $10
Rest of North Island: $15
South Island: $20
Rural Address: Additional $5
Delivery
- Our plants are available for shipment throughout the year, depending on stock levels. Typical delivery times range from 5 to 7 business days, although they can take up to 10 business days depending on the destination.
- We take extra care in packaging; most of our plants are secured in bespoke inserts and shipped in individual boxes to ensure they arrive undamaged.
- Deliveries are scheduled once a week, typically on Monday. If you place your order over the weekend, we aim to dispatch your plants on the following Monday. This scheduling allows our team to prepare your order thoroughly and ensures the courier has sufficient time to deliver your plants safely, avoiding any unnecessary delays over the weekend.
- All orders are shipped via courier track and trace service (not signature required)
- We cannot deliver to PO Box addresses.
- If you have a rural address, please contact us beforehand to discuss the best delivery options and avoid any potential issues.
Additional Delivery Information
- We dispatch our plants year-round, as most are shipped with soil. During the winter months, we closely monitor weather conditions and may temporarily delay shipments if the weather is particularly severe. Our packing process includes adding insulation when necessary to protect the plants against temperature extremes.
- In summer, we ensure that plants are thoroughly watered before they leave our nursery. Occasionally, we may need to ship plants bare-rooted, particularly when they cannot be comfortably re-potted into smaller packaging for shipping. We will always discuss this with you in advance if your plant needs to be shipped in this manner.
- It's important to note that shipping can be a stressful experience for plants, often due to spending several days in a dark, confined space. While most plants withstand this with little to no stress, some may experience leaf drop. However, they generally recover quickly with some additional care, including proper watering and gradual reintroduction to light after arrival.
