• Chalta Elephant Apple (Dillenia indica) fruit tree with broad green leaves, large white flowers, and rounded yellowish-green fruits growing in a tropical garden.
  • Chalta Elephant Apple (Dillenia indica) fruit tree with broad green leaves, large white flowers, and rounded yellowish-green fruits growing in a tropical garden.
  • Chalta Elephant Apple (Dillenia indica) fruit tree with broad green leaves, large white flowers, and rounded yellowish-green fruits growing in a tropical garden.
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Eden Valley Seeds

Chalta Elephant Apple Fruit Seeds – Dillenia indica Tropical Fruit Tree

Chalta Elephant Apple Fruit Seeds – Dillenia indica Tropical Fruit Tree

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$18.89 USD
$18.89 USD
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Oct 23 – Oct 25 Estimated arrival
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ORDER READY Oct 15 – Oct 16 2–3 business days
DELIVERED Oct 23 – Oct 25 10–12 business days total
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Key Features

  • Plant Variety: Chalta, also known as Elephant Apple, is a tropical evergreen tree.

  • Fruit Appearance: Produces rounded, yellowish-green fruits surrounded by thick, fleshy sepals.

  • Plant Characteristics: Features broad green leaves, spreading branches, and large white flowers.

  • Garden Uses: Suitable for tropical gardens, spacious home landscapes, and fruit-tree collections.

  • Distinctive Fruit: The tangy fruit is traditionally used in cooked dishes, curries, and preserves.

Growing Benefits

  • Adds a distinctive tropical fruit tree to suitable garden landscapes.

  • Provides attractive green foliage and large, ornamental white flowers.

  • Offers an opportunity to explore an underutilized South Asian fruit.

  • Can support wildlife interactions in suitable tropical garden environments.

  • Provides fruit for traditional culinary preparations when properly identified and ripe.

Seed Specifications

  • Common Name: Chalta, Elephant Apple, Chulta

  • Botanical Name: Dillenia indica L.

  • Plant Type: Tropical evergreen or semi-evergreen fruit tree

  • Colors: Green foliage, white flowers, and yellowish-green mature fruits.

  • Height: Can reach approximately thirty metres in favorable conditions, although size varies by climate and growing environment.


  • Sunlight: Full sun to light shade; performs best with warmth and adequate moisture.

  • Soil: Moist, fertile, well-drained soil with organic matter.

  • Water: Regular watering; prefers consistently moist soil and humid conditions.

  • Germination Time: Often around thirty to sixty days under suitable conditions, though results vary.

  • Sowing Depth: Sow fresh seeds shallowly and cover lightly with a thin layer of growing medium.

  • Spacing: Allow generous room for a mature tree; around five metres between trees is a regional planting recommendation.

  • Growing Zones: Best suited to warm tropical and subtropical climates; protect young plants from frost.

  • Flowering/Maturity: Flowers commonly appear during the warmer months, with fruit developing over subsequent months. Seed-grown trees may take several years to bear fruit.

  • Uses: Tropical landscaping, edible-fruit gardens, traditional culinary preparations, and ornamental planting.

Growing Tips

  • Sow fresh seeds promptly because prolonged storage may reduce their viability.

  • Maintain warm conditions and evenly moist soil during germination.

  • Choose a spacious planting site with sunlight and protection from frost.

  • Transplant young seedlings carefully during mild, moist weather to reduce transplant stress.

Seed Storage

Chalta seeds can lose viability during prolonged storage. For the best chance of germination, sow fresh seeds soon after extraction from ripe fruit. If immediate sowing is not possible, keep seeds in suitable conditions recommended by your seed supplier and avoid allowing them to dry out unless the supplier confirms that drying is appropriate.

Unique Facts About Chalta Seeds

  • Scientific identity: Elephant apple belongs to the Dilleniaceae family and is scientifically known as Dillenia indica.

  • Distinctive fruit structure: Its seeds are embedded within a firm, fibrous fruit structure surrounded by fleshy sepals.

  • Wildlife connection: Elephants and other animals can help disperse its seeds, while water can also carry them to new locations.

  • Traditional food plant: The fleshy outer parts of the fruit are used in regional dishes, including sour curries and preserves.

Growing Instructions

Planting Season

Sow seeds during warm weather, preferably in spring or the rainy season when temperatures and moisture support seedling development. In tropical regions, choose a period without extreme heat or prolonged waterlogging.

Seed Preparation and Sowing

Extract seeds from a ripe fruit and clean away the surrounding pulp. Sow fresh seeds in nursery pots or a prepared seedbed filled with a suitable growing medium. Use containers with drainage holes to prevent standing water around the roots.

Sowing Depth and Spacing

Cover seeds lightly with growing medium rather than burying them deeply. Keep individual seedlings sufficiently separated to avoid overcrowding. When planting young trees in the landscape, allow several metres of space for their eventual canopy and root development.

Sunlight and Soil

Choose a warm location receiving full sun or light shade. Use fertile soil rich in organic matter that retains moisture while allowing excess water to drain. Chalta naturally grows in moist tropical environments and benefits from humid conditions.

Watering and Germination

Water gently after sowing and maintain consistent moisture without saturating the soil. Germination may take several weeks, and some seeds take longer depending on freshness and environmental conditions. Keep nursery containers warm and monitor them regularly for emerging seedlings.

Transplanting

Move seedlings into larger pots as they develop healthy roots and leaves. Transplant them to their permanent location when they are sufficiently established and the weather is favorable. Handle the root ball carefully and water thoroughly after planting.

Fertilizing and Plant Care

Incorporate mature compost into the soil before planting. Once the tree is established, apply a balanced fertilizer according to its label and the plant's growth needs. Maintain mulch around the root area while keeping it away from the trunk. Remove damaged branches and monitor for pests or disease.

Flowering and Fruit Maturity

With suitable warmth, moisture, and growing space, Chalta develops into a substantial tropical tree bearing large white flowers and rounded fruits. Flowering and fruiting times depend on climate and location. Seed-grown trees may require several years to reach fruit-bearing maturity.