Labor Day: 10% OFF live plants • Aug 27–Sep 2 • In-store + Online
🚚 Shipping Update:
We’re now shipping nationwide across the continental U.S. again! 🌱
📦 Please note: Shipping to California remains paused due to agricultural regulations.
🌴 Red Maradol Papaya – Big, Bold & Nutrient-Rich Tropical Delight!
Red Maradol Papaya is a Mexican heavyweight in the world of tropical fruits—famed for its large size, richly colored flesh, and dense nutritional value. This self-pollinating variety is ideal for gardeners looking for big rewards with minimal effort. With its powerful antioxidant profile, edible seeds, and luscious flavor, Red Maradol makes a bold addition to your edible landscape or container garden.
🌿 Quick Facts Table
| Botanical Name | Carica papaya 'Red Maradol' |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Tropical fruiting tree |
| Sale Size | 1-gallon container |
| Mature Height & Width | 8–15 ft tall, 4–6 ft wide |
| USDA Zones | Zones 9b–11 |
| Sun Requirements | Full sun |
| Cold Hardiness | Protect below 32°F |
| Growth Habit | Upright, fast-growing |
| Spacing Requirements | 8–10 ft apart |
🍈 Fruit & Flavor Highlights – Red Maradol
- Fruit Size & Shape: Elongated and pear-shaped, with mature fruits often reaching 12–20 inches long and weighing 4–7 pounds each.
- Skin & Flesh: Green skin turns golden yellow when ripe; flesh ranges from golden to rich salmon-red.
- Flavor Profile: Sweet and juicy with mild musk; refreshing tropical flavor ideal for fresh eating or blending.
- Seeds: Small, round, black seeds have a peppery, edible coating—often used in smoothies or dried and ground like spice.
🌱 What Makes Red Maradol Special?
- Commercial Favorite in Mexico & Central America: One of the most widely cultivated varieties in Latin America due to superior size, uniformity, and storage qualities.
- Self-Pollinating: No pollinator needed—just plant one and enjoy fruit!
- Extended Shelf Life: Thick skin and firm flesh allow fruits to be stored in the fridge for up to a week once ripe.
- Dual-Purpose Plant: Not just fruit—the seeds are edible and traditionally used for digestive and liver health.
- Nutrient-Dense: A tropical superfruit, packed with:
- Vitamin A (for vision & skin)
- Vitamin C (immune booster)
- Potassium & Folate
- Beta-Carotene & Lycopene (powerful antioxidants)
🛠 Growing & Care Guide
- Planting Location: Warm, sunny, and sheltered from wind. Red Maradol loves the heat!
- Soil: Requires well-draining, rich soil. Sandy loam is ideal. Raised beds or mounds recommended to avoid rot.
- Watering: Keep soil consistently moist, but not soggy. Root rot is the #1 enemy—let soil dry slightly between deep waterings.
- Fertilization: Monthly feeding with organic fruit tree fertilizer or compost tea will support strong growth and fruit set.
- Mulching: Use organic mulch to conserve moisture and protect roots.
🪴 Container Growing Tips
- Container Size: Start in 15–25 gallon pot with ample drainage.
- Support Needs: Stake young plants to prevent wind damage.
- Pruning: Rarely needed, but can be topped at 3–4 ft to promote branching and lower fruit production.
- Overwintering: In cooler zones, move containers to a greenhouse or warm indoor spot during cold months.
⚠️ Challenges & Considerations
- Pest Awareness: Watch for mealybugs, aphids, mites, and whiteflies—especially in hot, humid zones.
- Cold Sensitivity: This tropical beauty needs protection below 40°F and may perish below freezing.
- Heavy Fruiting: The weight of fruit may require support for trunk or branches once mature.
🌟 Is Red Maradol Papaya Right for You?
✅ Ideal For:
Gardeners in warm zones, health-conscious foodies, tropical fruit collectors, smoothie lovers, permaculture homesteads.
❌ Not Ideal For:
Frost-prone areas without greenhouse space, or small pots with poor drainage.
📈 Ready to Grow a Tropical Giant?
With its huge fruits, sweet red flesh, and medicinal seeds, Red Maradol is more than just a pretty papaya—it’s a powerhouse of nutrition and flavor. Whether you’re juicing, spooning it fresh, or drying the seeds for spice, this variety will keep your garden and your body thriving.
Order your Red Maradol Papaya today and grow like a pro!
🏡 Local Pickup Available
📍 Available for Local Pickup at GreenDreams!
18709 US Hwy. 41, Spring Hill, FL 34610
Open Tues–Fri 9AM–5PM | Sat 8AM–3PM
Come see what’s fresh 🌴
IMPORTANT INFORMATION BEFORE PURCHASING LIVE PLANTS:
*Please be advised that our online store selections are NOT available for pickup at our retail location in Spring Hill, Florida.
Inventory for our online store is located at a separate facility and are priced and handled exclusively for packaging & shipping.
Click here to learn more about our Spring Hill, FL retail nursery location, including countless more nursery selections ready for pickup - larger sizes and wider variety of plants not suitable for nationwide delivery.
1. Shipping Stress: Transportation can be stressful for plants, particularly when they spend several days in a confined, dark environment. It’s common for plants to experience leaf drop during this period. Rest assured, most plants typically recover quickly and thrive with minimal aftercare. However, some may need extra attention, love, and care, requiring appropriate watering and exposure to gentle light post-unboxing.
2. Potential Physical Damage: Despite our dedicated efforts to ensure that your plants are securely packaged, they may incur damage during shipping and handling by UPS. Rest assured, our shipping team is committed to packing your selections with utmost care and precision to minimize any potential harm.
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For significant box damage, please reach out to UPS within 30 days to initiate a claim.
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For minor damages, such as a broken branch or stem, we advise allowing the plant time to recover and regenerate with proper care and attention.
3. Long-Distance Shipping Considerations: Orders shipped over long distances, particularly to the western US, may take 3 - 5 business days to arrive due to various factors, including agricultural inspections in Arizona, California, and Texas. Such extended transit times can be particularly challenging for tender, young plants, affecting their quality due to prolonged confinement.
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We take additional measures during packaging to facilitate a swift recovery of the plants upon unboxing.
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Initial extra care and attention might be required over the first few weeks post-transport.
For further guidance, kindly review our detailed policies on returns and refunds, as well as our comprehensive plant care guide. We appreciate your understanding and patience in nurturing your new plants.
🌿 Important Shipping Information
Please take a moment to review our shipping protocols designed to ensure your plants arrive in optimal condition.
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Countdown Clock: At the top of our online store, you'll notice a countdown clock. This tool helps communicate our weekly shipping schedule, providing clarity on when you can expect your orders to be dispatched.
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Shipping Schedule: Our nursery, located in the heart of Central Florida, ships orders once weekly, every Monday. This is a strategic decision to prevent packages from being stationary over the weekends, ensuring that our plants travel as swiftly as possible across the country, even reaching as far as California.
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Shipping Method: At present, we offer ground shipping rates to meet various needs while maintaining the well-being of our plants during transit.
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Our Dedicated Team: We are a boutique nursery with a passionate team. Our members wear many hats, contributing to shipping, nursery operations, and engaging in valuable local projects. As we blossom and expand, rest assured that enhancing and streamlining our processes remains a priority to serve you better
Terms and Conditions for Purchasing Live Plants
1. Understanding of Shipping Stress
By purchasing live plants from our store, the customer acknowledges that transportation can be stressful for plants. It is common for plants to undergo leaf drop or experience other temporary issues during shipping. However, it is understood that most plants recover quickly with adequate care and attention post-shipping.
2. Awareness of Potential Physical Damage
Customers acknowledge that despite our best efforts in packaging, there may be occurrences of damage during shipping and handling. For substantial damages to the package, customers agree to contact UPS within 30 days to initiate a claim.
3. Acknowledgement of Long-Distance Shipping Considerations
Customers recognize that shipments, especially those directed to the western US, may be subjected to longer shipping durations of 3-5 business days. Customers agree to provide necessary care to the plants, recognizing that the quality of the plants may be affected due to prolonged shipping times.
4. Agreement with Shipping Information and Schedule
Customers, by making a purchase, have reviewed and agreed upon our shipping protocols and schedules. They acknowledge the presence of a countdown clock on the website and our once-weekly shipping policy every Monday, recognizing the rationale behind avoiding weekend layovers for the plants.
5.Extreme Weather Conditions
Customers acknowledge that our store is not responsible for damage or loss of live plants due to extreme weather conditions during transit and delivery. This includes exposure to cold or freezing temperatures during the winter months and extreme heat during the summer. We provide tracking information when orders are processed every Monday to ensure customers are aware of the delivery schedule. It is the customer's responsibility to prevent packages from being left outside in conditions that may cause damage. Our store does not accept responsibility for any adverse effects caused by weather conditions beyond our control.
6. No Refund Policy
Customers agree that refunds are only processed under exceptional circumstances. Our store will not be held responsible for poor plant choices relative to location suitability, extreme conditions during and/or post-shipment, and improper post-purchase plant care.
7. Responsibility of Care
Upon purchase, customers agree to assume full responsibility for the ongoing care of the plants. This includes, but is not limited to, appropriate watering, exposure to suitable light, and adherence to specific care instructions pertinent to each plant type.
8. Consent
By proceeding with this purchase, customers consent to all the terms and conditions stated above, confirming understanding and agreement to all stipulations mentioned.
These terms and conditions aim to ensure clarity, mutual understanding, and agreement between the seller and the customer to facilitate a smooth transaction and foster a positive customer experience.
