Bring home a true piece of Hawaiʻi's agricultural heritage with our Barretto Family Heirloom Papaya from Wai Mālie Farms. These nursery-grown papaya plants descend from a special family selection that has been carefully preserved for generations. They are an excellent choice for gardeners looking for papaya plants for sale in Maui while growing a variety with a unique story rooted in Hawaiʻi's farming history.
This heirloom traces its roots back to my great-grandfather's commercial papaya orchard on Kauaʻi, where he cultivated numerous papaya varieties. Of all the papayas growing in the orchard, my great-grandmother selected this particular variety as her favorite. She believed it had the finest combination of flavor, texture, aroma, and exceptionally large fruit, and she carefully continued saving seed from it year after year so it would remain in our family.
During Hawaiʻi's papaya breeding programs, varieties from my great-grandfather's orchard were shared with researchers and contributed to the advancement of papaya cultivation in the islands. While this is not the specific variety used in those breeding efforts, it is the treasured family selection that my great-grandmother chose to preserve because she simply believed it was the best.
Papaya is one of the fastest-producing tropical fruit plants you can grow, often rewarding gardeners with fruit within the first year under ideal growing conditions. Its lush tropical foliage, rapid growth, and nearly continuous production make it an outstanding addition to edible landscapes, food forests, and backyard gardens throughout Maui.
This heirloom variety thrives in full sun, fertile well-draining soil, and warm tropical conditions. It grows beautifully alongside bananas, coffee, citrus, avocado, mango, mountain apple, longan, and many other tropical fruit trees, creating productive food forests that provide beauty and harvests throughout the year.
Unlike many fruit trees, papaya grows quickly and remains relatively compact, making it an excellent choice for smaller properties while still producing abundant harvests. Whether you're planting a single papaya or creating a larger tropical garden, this family heirloom offers an opportunity to grow a variety that has been appreciated and preserved for generations.
Our healthy nursery-grown plants are well established and ready to be transplanted into the ground or larger containers. With proper care, they'll reward you with beautiful tropical foliage and generous harvests for years to come.
$15.00 each
Save 10% on your plant order when you spend $100 or more.
Use discount code 10OFFPLANTS during checkout to receive 10% off all eligible plant purchases on orders over $100.
Planning a tropical fruit garden or edible landscape? We'd be happy to help you select companion plants and create a productive planting that thrives in Maui's climate. Pair this heirloom papaya with coffee, citrus, mountain apple, longan, avocado, and mango to create a beautiful and productive tropical food forest.
All Barretto Family Heirloom Papaya plants are available for local pickup only at Wai Mālie Farms in Makawao. Pickup is available by appointment after your order has been confirmed.
This plant is available for pickup by appointment at Wai Mālie Farms in Makawao.
Healthy Coffee Arabica starts grown in 4-inch nursery pots, perfect for home gardens, edible landscapes, or starting your own coffee grove. $5 each or $4 each when you purchase 20 or more. Local pickup only at Wai Mālie Farms.
Healthy Mountain Apple (ʻŌhiʻa ʻAi) starts grown in 4-inch nursery pots. This beautiful Hawaiian fruit tree produces crisp, juicy fruit and makes an excellent addition to edible landscapes, food forests, and home gardens. Local pickup only at Wai Mālie Farms.
Grow a unique and productive tropical tree with a healthy Malabar Chestnut from Wai Mālie Farms. Valued for its edible nuts, attractive foliage, and ornamental beauty, this versatile tree is perfect for edible landscapes and food forests. Local pickup only at Wai Mālie Farms.
Grow your own delicious tropical fruit with healthy Longan Seedlings from Wai Mālie Farms. These young trees are an excellent addition to edible landscapes, backyard orchards, and food forests throughout Hawaiʻi. Local pickup only at Wai Mālie Farms.
