Jackfruit is a fast-growing evergreen tree with a spreading, irregular crown.
It can grow up to 25 metres tall, with a bole diameter usually up to 80cm, but reaching 200cm.
Widely cultivated in tropical regions, especially Southeast Asia and Brazil, for its edible fruit and seeds.

Known Hazards

None known

Habitat

Rainforests and evergreen forests at elevations of 450 - 1,200 metres.

Cultivation Status

Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Thrives in humid lowland tropics below 1,000 metres elevation.
Mean annual temperature 24 - 28°C, mean max temperature 32 - 35°C, mean min temperature 16 - 20°C.
Mean annual rainfall 900 - 4,000mm, prefers even distribution without a dry season.
Can tolerate short dry periods and grows at latitudes up to 30° from the equator.
Succeeds in a variety of soils, prefers deep, well-drained alluvial soil, pH 5.5 - 7.5.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked in various ways.
Young fruit pulp rich in carbohydrates, cooked as vegetable; sweeter when ripe, eaten raw or cooked.
Rind yields fair jelly; dried fruits have a strong smell, but can be dried to reduce it.
Sticky latex on fruit can be removed with cooking oil.
Seed - cooked, boiled or roasted like chestnuts; ground into powder for biscuits.
Young male flowers eaten mixed with chillies, sugar, salt, etc.

Medicinal

Ash of leaves, with or without oil, treats ulcers, diarrhoea, boils, stomach-ache, wounds.
Fruit pulp and seeds considered a cooling tonic; seeds reputed as aphrodisiac.
Sap as anti-syphilitic, vermifuge; wood pith may induce abortion.
Root decoction treats fever, diarrhoea, skin diseases, asthma.
Latex bacteriolytic, used in healing wounds, abscesses, snakebite, glandular swellings.

Agroforestry Uses

None Recorded

Other Uses

Bast used for cordage, cloth; latex as adhesive, caulking, trapping birds.
Bark yields resin for varnishes; sawdust with alum produces yellow dye.
Wood used for furniture, construction, musical instruments; fuel.
Roots prized for carvings, picture frames.

Propagation

Seed - germinates within 10 days under suitable conditions; best sown promptly due to viability loss.
Seedlings have long taproots, pot up early and transplant carefully.
Root cuttings and air layering also possible.