Family: Sapotaceae

Chrysophyllum cainito, commonly known as star apple or caimito, is a tropical evergreen tree native to the Caribbean and parts of Central America. It is best known for its attractive, glossy green leaves with a distinctive golden-bronze underside and for its round, purple or green fruits that reveal a star-shaped pattern when cut crosswise. The sweet, milky flesh is eaten fresh and used in desserts and beverages, making the tree popular in home gardens and agroforestry systems across the tropics. In addition to fruit production, star apple is valued as an ornamental shade tree and for its dense wood, which has been used locally for construction and tool handles.

In Hawaiʻi and other tropical regions, star apple is generally considered a low-risk species when grown in cultivation. It has not shown a strong tendency to spread aggressively or displace native vegetation. However, like many fruiting trees, it can reproduce from seed, especially where fruits are dispersed by people or animals. While there is currently no evidence that Chrysophyllum cainito poses a significant invasive threat in Hawaiʻi, responsible planting and management are recommended. Monitoring for unwanted seedlings and choosing appropriate planting locations can help ensure this species remains a beneficial and well-managed addition to landscapes rather than a potential ecological concern.

High Risk Traits:

• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Widely naturalized in the tropics (but no evidence to date in the Hawaiian Islands)
  
• Other Chrysophyllum species have become invasive
  
• Seeds reported to be toxic
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Reproduces by seeds
  
• Self-fertile
  
• Seeds dispersed by animals (bats and ground-dwelling frugivorous mammals) and intentionally by people
  
• Tolerates pruning and resprouts after cutting

Low Risk Traits:

• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• Useful as a shade and fruit tree
  
• Prefers full sun (may limit ability to spread into intact forests)
  
• Not reported to spread vegetatively
  
• Reaches maturity in 3+ years
  
• Fruit and seeds relatively large, limiting ability for long distance dispersal