Sapodilla Trees

The sapodilla tree is thought to be originally native to Yucatan and parts of Southern Mexico, as well as northern Belize and Northeastern Guatemala. It was introduced long ago throughout tropical America in the West Indies, the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Florida Keys and southern part of mainland Florida.

It is a slow growing tree and not strictly tropical, (mature trees can withstand temperatures into the 20 degree fahrenheit range). The tree is tolerant of most conditions but prefers a sunny, warm and frost free location in most any type of soil with good drainage. They are drought tolerant and can take soil salinity. They grow naturally in limestone soils but trees flourish in deep loose clay or sandy loam.

They are good options for edible landscaping since they are very attractive tree. However, they are very slow growing so seedlings will take time to develop. In tropical zones, they can grow as tall as 100 feet. The two downsides of the Sapodilla tree include its intolerance to winter cold and it is considered an invasive exotic tree in Florida.

It is recommended that Sapodilla trees are fertilized with -8% nitrogen, 2-4% phosphoric acid and 6-8% potash every two or three months with 1/4 pound and increasing gradually to one pound. After the first year, two or three applications of fertilizer a year is enough.

These trees require little pruning and are mostly pest resistant. The fruit are sweet with a flavor resembling pear and brown sugar.

It may be difficult to tell when a sapodilla is ready to pick. The best way to test if fruit is ripe is to scratch it with your fingernail. Unripe fruit will be green and still show the latex for which the tree is named but ripe fruit will show the subsurface layer as light red. Usually the fruit takes 4 days or so to ripen at room temperature after being picked.