Heaven Lotus, Membrillo

Common Names: Heaven Lotus, Heaven Lotus Tree, Tree of Heaven Lotus

Heaven lotus is a stunning tropical tree that does surprisingly well in Perth if you give it the right spot or greenhouse. It gets huge, glossy leaves and massive, pink flowers that look like water lilies and smell amazing. It is a real showstopper for anyone wanting a lush, tropical look in their backyard.

Features:

Ideal prune height range: 3-5m

pH growing conditions: 5.5 to 6.5

Shade or full sun: Prefers part shade or afternoon shade in Perth Metro

Minimum pot year 5: 60L pot

Time to fruit age: 4-5 years for flowers, needs to cross pollinate to produce fruit. 

Heaven lotus trees love a warm, sheltered spot away from harsh winds and scorching afternoon sun. They need rich soil with heaps of organic matter and regular watering to keep them happy through hot summers. They do great in large pots or planted in a protected nook in the garden.

Interesting Notes:

The flowers actually grow directly out of the older branches and trunk, similar to jaboticaba.

Even when it is not flowering, the giant leaves make your garden feel like an instant rainforest.

This is a rare gem for collectors and anyone who wants a unique feature tree.

Mostly grown for ornamental value. Fruits are edible, but you wouldn’t grow this tree for a sweet fruit snack straight off the tree.

The fruits are hard, green-yellow capsules that grow on the trunk. Inside, there is a bright yellowish-orange pulp around the seeds. Instead of being sweet like a mangosteen, for example, the pulp is dense, oily, and very rich in vitamins.

In Central and South America, people usually boil the pulp or mix it into rice and soups. It actually has a savoury, meaty taste rather than a fruity one.

So while it is a fun novelty to harvest, this tree is definitely grown for its spectacular flowers and huge tropical leaves rather than a backyard fruit feast.

Limited stock. Pickup from Parkwood, WA. Delivery to Perth Metro only.

Keywords: Heaven lotus tree, Gustavia superba, rare tropical plant Perth, feature tree, exotic garden Perth