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Sapindaceae

How to identify an ackee tree

Blighia sapida

Jamaica's national fruit, typically producing two flushes a year. Critically, only the pale-yellow arils from pods that have split open naturally on the tree are edible — unopened or unripe fruit and the pink membrane contain hypoglycin A/B, the toxins behind 'Jamaican vomiting sickness.'

Field marks

These features are typical of the genus Blighia, so they help confirm you are looking at the right group; the fruit and the details below separate the species.

  • Leaves are pinnately compound.
  • The fruit is a pear-shaped capsule that ripens red to orange and splits into three, showing glossy black seeds on cream-coloured arils.
  • Unripe or improperly prepared ackee is toxic. Never eat any fruit on the strength of a photo identification.

Check a photo

Photograph one whole, mature leaf from above, or a flower or fruit, and the identifier will return ranked matches. If ackee is the top result, the field marks above are your second opinion.

Leaves, flowers, fruit, or bark — closer and sharper identifies better. Your photo is identified and discarded, never stored.

Where and when you will find it

Origin / cultivation history
West Africa; naturalized and iconic in Jamaica
USDA zones
10b-11
Climate
Tropical lowland.
Fruiting season
January, February, March, June, July and August (typical, Northern Hemisphere)
How often grown
Uncommon in cultivation

Fruit is the most reliable way to confirm an identification, so January, February, March, June, July and August is the easiest window. Outside it, rely on the leaves and the overall habit. A tree growing well outside the climate above is more likely to be a look-alike.

Growing it: seedling or grafted?

A young tree with no fruit is harder to identify and easy to mislabel, so it helps to know how long it takes to reach fruiting age and how it is usually propagated.

Years to first fruit
Seedling 5-8 yrs; grafted faster
Propagation
Seed, grafting for faster establishment.

Relatives in the Sapindaceae family

Close relatives share many features, so these are the most likely mix-ups.

Map your ackee trees

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More identification guides: free plant identifier · tropical fruit tree identifier · fruit tree identifier · all species guides