Breadfruit

Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) is a large evergreen tree native to the Caroline Islands and Marianas, where it thrives in full sun with moist, well-drained soil that can range from light sandy to heavy clay. This versatile plant can grow up to 18 meters tall and is known for its edible fruit, which can be cooked and used similarly to bread or potatoes. The tree also produces flowers, leaves, and seeds that are all part of its edible offerings. One distinctive feature of the breadfruit is its large, compound leaves with a unique, lobed appearance. Another notable characteristic is its ability to propagate from young trees or suckers, making it easy to cultivate in suitable environments. Breadfruit is native to the Caroline Islands and Marianas but has been introduced to many other regions, including Andaman Islands, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cameroon, Central American Pacific, Chagos Archipelago, Comoros, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Gambia, Gilbert Islands, Gulf of Guinea Islands, Hainan, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Java, Laos, Leeward Islands, Lesser Sunda Islands, Line Islands, Malaya, Maldives, Maluku, Marquesas, Marshall Islands, Mexico Southeast, Nauru, New Guinea, Nicobar Islands, Niue, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn Islands, Puerto Rico, Samoa, Santa Cruz Islands, Seychelles, Society Islands, Solomon Islands, Southwest Caribbean, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Taiwan, Tokelau-Manihiki, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuamotu, Tubuai Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Venezuelan Antilles, Vietnam, and Windward Islands. The tree grows rapidly and can reach a height of 18 meters, making it a tall tree in its growth habit. It is hardy in zones 10-12 and prefers a soil pH between 4 and 7. In traditional use, breadfruit appears in herbal sources around after-meal comfort traditions, often as a decoction. PlantSage presents this as ethnobotanical context, not as medical advice. The tree's parts, including flowers, fruit, leaves, and seeds, are edible and can be used in various culinary applications. Breadfruit is also useful for its non-edible applications, such as being used as an adhesive, in textiles, for containers, dye, fiber, animal feed, fire starting, gum, pest control, windbreak, weaving material, waterproofing, and lumber.