Star fruit slices into perfect five-pointed stars every time, its crisp, juicy flesh and edible skin making it as fun to serve as it is to eat.
Native to Southeast Asia, carambola (its botanical name) grows on a compact evergreen tree that thrives in tropical and subtropical climates, producing multiple harvests a year where conditions stay warm year-round.
Star fruit trees want full sun and well-draining soil, and they're frost-sensitive, thriving outdoors only in warm, frost-free climates. Elsewhere, they can be grown in a large container and brought indoors before cold weather arrives.
Star fruit contains a neurotoxin that can be dangerous for people with kidney disease, so anyone with reduced kidney function should avoid eating it.
