Breadfruit Ma'afala
Artocarpus altilis 'Ma'afala'
A premium Polynesian breadfruit variety that produces enormous, starchy fruits perfect for roasting, baking, or frying as a potato substitute with incredible nutritional value. This seedless variety is prized for its smooth texture and mild, slightly sweet flavor that takes on the taste of whatever seasonings you use. A single mature tree can feed a family year-round with its prolific fruiting habit.
Harvest
1095-1460d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
8–12
USDA hardiness
Height
60 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Breadfruit Ma'afala in USDA Zone 8
All Zone 8 tropical →Zone Map
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Breadfruit Ma'afala · Zones 8–12
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Height: Height: 30.00 to 50.00 feet. Spread: Spread: 30.00 to 50.00 feet. Sun: Sun: Full sun to part shade. Water: Water: Medium. Zones: Zone: 10 to 12. Bloom time: Bloom Time: Seasonal bloomer. Maintenance: Maintenance: Medium.
Harvesting
Bloom time: Bloom Time: Seasonal bloomer
History & Origin
Family: Family: Moraceae
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Coconut Palm
Compatible canopy layers, coconut provides wind protection and doesn't compete for nutrients
Banana
Creates beneficial microclimate, banana leaves provide mulch, compatible root systems
Papaya
Fast-growing understory tree that provides early shade and windbreak for young breadfruit
Sweet Potato
Excellent ground cover that prevents erosion and suppresses weeds under breadfruit canopy
Taro
Thrives in partial shade, utilizes different soil nutrients, provides edible crop in understory
Lemongrass
Repels insects and mosquitoes, aromatic barrier plant that doesn't compete with tree roots
Pineapple
Grows well under partial canopy, shallow root system doesn't compete with breadfruit
Ginger
Tolerates shade well, provides ground cover and has natural pest-repelling properties
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone which is toxic to breadfruit and most tropical fruit trees
Eucalyptus
Allelopathic compounds inhibit growth of nearby plants including fruit trees
Mango
Competes for similar nutrients and space, both are large canopy trees with overlapping root zones
Cashew
Similar mature size creates competition for sunlight, water, and soil nutrients
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #171714)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Generally healthy but susceptible to root rot and leaf blight in humid conditions
Common Pests
Fruit flies, scale insects, mealybugs, breadfruit shoot borer
Diseases
Phytophthora fruit rot, leaf blight, pink disease, root rot