The robust, evergreen mountain papaya grows as a shrub or small tree at an altitude of 1500-3000 m. It almost never grows larger than 8-10 metres in nature. It forms a thick, fleshy trunk with a maximum 1.50-2 metres in height. The leaves are a much darker green, are less jagged and above all, tolerate temperatures that are too cold for other papaya species.

The fruits are cucumber-shaped, are cooked their shell and eaten like vegetables. When ripe, the skin is orange and the fruits are very sweet.