Native & adapted

Star gooseberry

Phyllanthus acidus

Also known as Otaheite gooseberry · Tahitian gooseberry · Malay gooseberry · Grosella

A small tropical tree that bears dense clusters of ribbed, pale yellow fruit along its branches. Sour and refreshing, and best grown in a large pot in Phoenix.

EdibleFruitingContainer friendlyFrost tender

Landscape layersLower canopy

Mature size

6–15 ft tall and 6–10 ft wide

Climate fit

Urban core · USDA 9b–10a

Plant spacing

8 ft from other trees

Frost

Damaged near 32°F; protect below 40°F.

Special categories

EDIBLE

Hardiness guidance

USDA 10b–11; protect below about 40°F

Winter chill

None

Typical harvest

Fruits in flushes through the warm season.

Before you plant

These conditions determine whether it will thrive.

Soil chemistry

Fertile, fast-draining soil rich in compost.

Required microclimate

Placement is part of the growing system.

Large container that can move under cover on cold nights.

Cold hardiness

Cover in a hard freeze below 30°F

Mature trees take light freezing to about 30°F, and Morton notes it survives and fruits in Tampa, which gets colder than South Florida. Cover young plants every frost night and older ones when a hard freeze is forecast.

Leaves and wood: damaged below 30°F

Heat tolerance

Shade from late-afternoon sun

Grown in full sun in the tropics, but there's little data on how it handles 115°F dry heat. Give it afternoon shade in the hottest west-facing spots and keep it watered.

Sources:

growables.org , toptropicals.com

Right plant, right place

Will Star gooseberry grow at your Arizona property?

Rare in Arizona. Treat as a patio container plant.

Best regional fit: Urban core · USDA 9b–10a.

Light

Sun exposure

Afternoon shade or filtered sun all day.

Water

Irrigation

Moderate and steady.

Fruit set

Pollination

Self-fertile.

Harvest

How to use it

Very sour; eaten with salt, pickled, or cooked into jam and syrup.

Planting & stewardship

How to help Star gooseberry thrive

1
Shade from afternoon sun.
2
Move under cover when nights drop below 40°F.
3
Feed lightly every 6 to 8 weeks in the warm season.
4
Keep soil evenly moist.

Read the horticultural reference ↗