Food Plants International - Plant Fact Sheets Cecropia peltata - Cecropia
Edible portion: Leaves, Fruit, Flowers
A medium sized evergreen tree. It can grow 15-20 m high. The trunk can be 50 cm across. The trunk and branches are hollow. The leaves are large and have 7-9 lobes arranged like fingers on a hand. The leaves have lobes which are shield shaped. The leaves are downy underneath and shiny on top. The leaves can be 60 cm across. The flowers are pale yellow and showy. They are in fingered clusters on long stems. They are sweet and edible. The fruit is cylindrical, hollow with soft sweet flesh. They are 12 cm long. They are edible. There are many small seeds.
A tropical plant. It is native to tropical America. It has moderate drought and cold tolerance. In Costa Rica it grows from sea level to 1,200 m altitude. It is best with a humus-rich, well-drained soil. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.