16 Types of Papayas (With Pictures)

Papayas, also known as pawpaw, are one of the most popular fruits in the world. Native to Central America, they are now grown in many tropical and subtropical countries.

These fruits make a delicious and healthy addition to any diet. They are an excellent source of vitamins A and C, dietary fiber, and potassium. They also contain a digestive enzyme called papain, which can help to break down proteins in the body. The fruits are versatile; they can be eaten fresh, cooked, or juiced. They can be added to smoothies, salads, and a variety of other dishes.

There are two main types of papaya: Hawaiian and Mexican. Hawaiian papayas are the most common type found in grocery stores. They have smooth, yellow-orange flesh and a sweet taste. Mexican papayas are smaller and have greenish-yellow flesh. They are less sweet than Hawaiian papayas but still have a delicious flavor.

In addition to the two main types mentioned above, there are numerous other varieties growing across the world. In this article, learn more on the different varieties of papaya. These vary from small dwarf ones to bigger papayas that produce large fruits.

The 16 Common Types of Papayas

1. Hawaiian Sunrise Papaya

The Hawaiian Sunrise papaya, also known as the strawberry papaya, remains to be one of the most popular as it grows throughout the year. This variety grows quite large and ends up having an elongated pear-like shape.

When the Hawaiian Sunrise papaya is ripe, its flesh is salmon pink. Inside, you come across an oblong seed cavity full of smooth black seeds. This is a good source of different nutrients like vitamin K, A, C, and E. The papaya also has beta carotene, potassium, and folate.

2. Hawaiian Sunset Papaya

The Hawaiian Sunset papaya bears a lot of resemblance to the Sunrise variety. It bears fruits all year and is low bearing. In addition, it is high yielding and has a high germination rate when growing from seed.

This is among the papaya varieties that produce super-sweet fruit. When ripe, its cavity fills with black shiny seeds. The main difference between the Sunset and the Sunrise variety of papaya is the shelf life. The Sunset variety can last up to 4 days longer than the Sunrise papaya.

3. Kamiya Papaya

Kamiya papaya originates from Hawaii and it was developed in 1960 by researchers at the University of Hawaii. The goal of developing the new variety was to make access to the seed cavity easier. Before, it was much harder due to the deep star shape.

This variety has a tasty flesh that contains lots of sugar. The fruit has a delicious aroma and lovely texture. One point to note about the Kamiya papaya is that it’s highly resistant to the ringspot virus.

4. Sunnybank Papaya

In the western parts of Australia, one of the main papaya varieties that are grown commercially is the Sunnybank. This variety came about after a series of trials to produce the best kind for commercial farming.

The Sunnybank papaya is a high-yielding plant that loves full sun exposure and well-draining soil. It produces fruits all year and it’s easy to direct-sow the seeds to the ground. But you can also germinate them in a seedbed, and then transplant them.

5. Mexican Papaya

Some papaya varieties are quite popular because of the sheer size of their fruits. One example is the Mexican papaya, known to produce some of the largest fruits. These elongated fruits can have a length ranging from 15 to 50 centimeters.

The papaya has an oval pyriform shape with thin and smooth skin. The waxy fruit has a soft and dense flesh when ripe.

Mexican papayas thrive in full sun exposure and well-draining soil. The tree bears papayas with a sweet musky tropical fruity flavor all year round.

6. Kapoho Papaya

Hawaii is also home to another papaya variety, the Kapoho papaya, which grows widely in the Puna District in Hawaii. This is where about 90% of Hawaii’s total papaya production comes from.

The Kapoho papaya is one of the varieties popular in many stores. Folks love it for its sweet flesh and lovely aroma. The yellow flesh surrounds a cavity of black seeds that you can germinate to grow more papaya trees.

The fruit has a pear shape and its flesh is quite firm. It has a high sugar content and is rich in Vitamins E, C, and A.

7. Hortus Gold Papaya

The Hortus Gold papaya variety originates in South Africa. This cultivar bears fruits all year round with full sun exposure. The papayas are round and have an oval shape. The delicious fruit is quite sweet and tends to have a high sugar content.

This papaya’s sweet flesh covers a cavity of black seeds. It’s better to harvest these seeds once the papaya ripens before drying to get more Hortus Gold papaya trees.

8. Guinea Gold Papaya

Western Australia is home to yet another variety of papaya, the Guinea Gold papaya. It is quite popular in the area and has nine different cultivars. These include Gold Cross, Hybrid No. 5, Golden Surprise, Hong Kong, and Yarrwun Yellow.

The tree can bear fruits all year in areas with full sun exposure and well-draining soil. Water requirements are minimal, but ensure not to overwater the tree. When the papaya is ripe, it has a sweet and sugary taste.

9. Tainung Papaya

Another papaya tree that produces large fruits is the Tainung. Its fruits resemble an elongated football and can reach a length of 70 centimeters. Once the fruit ripens, it has a delicious pink inner flesh with a high sugar content.

The Tainung papaya has a large seed cavity with hundreds of small shiny black seeds. This is one papaya whose seeds are edible. However, note that while the flesh is sweet, the seeds tend to have a peppery taste. The texture of the flesh resembles a mango, but its flavor is more like a melon.

This papaya is mostly grown for commercial purposes, thus it is common in fruit stores.

10. Waimanalo Papaya

Waimanalo papaya is a dwarf variety that can bear fruits when only a few feet tall. It’s easy to grow, making it another popular commercial variety. The papaya grows fast from seed and is ideal for direct-sowing into the ground.

The fruit tree bears many papayas that ripen to have a sweet flavor and aroma. These fruits are sugary and also nutritious; it is a good source of vitamin C. Areas with warm weather receiving full sun exposure are perfect for growing Waimanalo papayas.

11. Red Lady Papaya

Imagine a papaya whose flesh is a delicious red color. Well, that’s what you get with a ripe Red Lady papaya. These papaya fruits have an inner red flesh once they ripen with a cavity that carries black seeds. The good news is this fruit tree will continue to bear delicious papayas all year.

In terms of cultivation, Red Lady papayas grow well in soil with proper drainage. Pick a spot that receives full sun and water as needed, but ensure not to overwater.

12. Samba Papaya

The Samba papaya fruits can be as long as 20 centimeters or more. Once it ripens, the flesh is a deep orange-red color and quite delicious, thanks to a high sugar content. Eating the flesh feels like it’s melting in your mouth because of the smooth texture. It’s rich in beta carotene, phosphorus, calcium, iron, and Vitamin B.

The best time to harvest Samba papayas is during summer and early fall. Unlike other varieties, this papaya doesn’t bear fruit all year.

13. Oak Leaved Papaya

The Oak Leaved papaya tree is quite small, but it bears some lovely fruits. Thanks to its small stature, this papaya is a fast-growing variety. It has green leaves with the same shape and looks like those on an oak tree.

Just like its short stature, the fruits aren’t too long. Its fruit length can range from 3–5 centimeters with a long oval-like elongated shape.

The tree grows in clusters and has a sturdy stem to hold all the papayas as they grow. It bears fruit all year round. Once the papayas are ripe, they have yellow flesh.

14. Bettina Papaya

Bettina papaya originates in Queensland, Australia. It’s a propagation between a Queensland variety and Betty from Florida. As part of the Carica papaya variety, this fruit has a round-oval shape.

When the fruit ripens, it’s sweet with a delicious aroma. The tree does well in well-draining rich soil and full sun exposure. Avoid overwatering since it can cause root and stem rot.

15. Maradol Papaya

The Maradol papaya bears large cylindrical fruits that carry lots of flesh. These fruits have an elongated oval shape and can be as long as 35 centimeters. It produces fruits all year, but the peak season is spring.

Once the fruit is ripe, the flesh ranges from bright salmon-pink to red. One wonderful trait of the Maradol papaya is its soft but still firm flesh. It has a musky, sweet scent and a mild flavor. Once you remove the flesh, you come across a cavity with small black seeds.

16. Royal Star Papaya

Royal Star papayas are a popular variety in the US, but they originate from Mexico. The papayas have a long pear shape and can reach a length of 20 centimeters. This variety bears fruits all year round.

Harvest is better when the fruits are unripe and then you let them ripen slowly over a short duration. The flesh is juicy but still firm, giving these papayas a longer shelf life.

Which Is the Sweetest Type of Papaya?

The sweetest type of papaya you can get is the Hawaiian Sunrise. This variety of papaya is also known as the Strawberry papaya. When ripe, it has a sweet scent that’s quite attractive.

It’s not only people who appreciate the sweetness of the Hawaiian Sunrise papaya, but birds and other animals love feeding on this fruit when it ripens. So, it’s better to harvest it while still green and let the fruit ripen in a cool, dry area.

Hawaiian Sunrise papaya trees bear fruit all year round. The best place to plant the tree is in areas with well-draining soil and full sun exposure. As the fruit ripens, the skin color changes from green to golden orange while the flesh turns salmon-pink.

Conclusion

There are different varieties of papayas that you can grow. However, they all share some commonalities. For instance, papaya trees love growing in areas with well-draining rich soil and full sun exposure.

The 16 varieties of papayas vary in terms of tree and fruit size. While all fruits start out as green, they also vary in skin and flesh color when ripe. All papayas have black seeds inside a cavity that you can germinate easily.

Eating papayas is good for your health. The fruit is rich in all sorts of nutrients like vitamin K, A, C, and E. There’s also beta carotene, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and folate.

Featured Image Credit: Itaci, Shutterstock