North America Non-native Plant

Artocarpus

Botanical name: Artocarpus tamaran

USDA symbol: ARTA3

Native status: Not native but doesn't reproduce and persist in the wild

Artocarpus Tamaran: A Mystery Plant Worth Investigating If you’ve stumbled across the name Artocarpus tamaran in your plant research, you’re likely as curious as we are about this elusive member of the breadfruit family. Here’s the thing though – this particular plant name seems to be playing a bit of ...

Artocarpus Tamaran: A Mystery Plant Worth Investigating

If you’ve stumbled across the name Artocarpus tamaran in your plant research, you’re likely as curious as we are about this elusive member of the breadfruit family. Here’s the thing though – this particular plant name seems to be playing a bit of hide-and-seek with botanists and gardeners alike.

The Mystery Behind the Name

While the genus Artocarpus is well-known and includes popular tropical fruits like breadfruit, jackfruit, and breadnut, Artocarpus tamaran doesn’t appear in major botanical databases or scientific literature. This could mean several things:

  • It might be a very localized or regional name that hasn’t been widely documented
  • It could be a spelling variation or misidentification of another Artocarpus species
  • It might be an extremely rare species with limited documentation

What We Do Know About Artocarpus Plants

The Artocarpus genus is native to Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, with most species thriving in tropical climates. These plants are typically large trees that can reach impressive heights and are known for their distinctive fruits and foliage.

Should You Try to Grow It?

Here’s our honest advice: without clear identification and reliable growing information, we’d recommend holding off on trying to cultivate Artocarpus tamaran. Instead, consider these well-documented alternatives that might give you a similar tropical feel:

  • Research other confirmed Artocarpus species if you’re specifically interested in this genus
  • Consult with local botanists or extension services who might have regional knowledge
  • Look into native alternatives that provide similar aesthetic appeal for your area

The Bottom Line

While we love a good plant mystery, successful gardening usually requires reliable information about growing conditions, care requirements, and environmental needs. If you have specific information about Artocarpus tamaran or have encountered this plant in person, we’d love to learn more! In the meantime, stick with well-documented species that are known to thrive in your climate zone.

Remember, the best garden plants are those we can grow successfully and sustainably – and that usually means starting with species that have clear growing guidelines and established care practices.

Artocarpus

Classification

Group

Dicot

Kingdom

Plantae - Plants

Subkingdom

Tracheobionta - Vascular plants

Superdivision

Spermatophyta - Seed plants

Division

Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants

Subdivision
Class

Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons

Subclass

Hamamelididae

Order

Urticales

Family

Moraceae Gaudich. - Mulberry family

Genus

Artocarpus J.R. Forst. & G. Forst. - breadfruit

Species

Artocarpus tamaran Becc. - artocarpus

Plant data source: USDA, NRCS 2025. The PLANTS Database. https://plants.usda.gov,. 2/25/2025. National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA