Sapodilla: Manilkara zapota or Siamese Persimmon

Sapodilla (Manilkara zapota)

aka Siamese Persimmon, Sa pô chê or sapota, 'chiku' or 'chicozapote'

Sapodilla is a long-lived evergreen tree native to southern Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. It has been introduced to the Phillipines, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Bangladesh.

GROWTH

In its native environment, Sapodilla may grow to 98' tall w/ an average trunk diameter of 5'. But in cultivation in Florida, it grows to approx 30-49' w/ a max trunk diameter of 20".

It is a strong, wind resistent evergreen tree grown in tropical climates. The bark is rich with a white gummy latex called 'chicle'. Sapodilla must be kept from freezing to survive.

Young trees will be damaged at temperatures below freezing, but a more mature specimen can be cold tolerant to 26 degrees. Seems to also be tolerant of salt spray.

Leaves are oval or eliptical shaped, medium green and 3.5-7" long.

It has small, white, bell-shaped flowers that develop into a small light brown ellipsoid-shaped fruit, approx 2-4" in diameter, sometimes larger. Trees yield fruit twice a year, though it may continue flowering year around.

FRUIT

Sapodilla fruit has an exceptionally sweet, malty flavor. It contains 2-5 black seeds resembling beans w/ a hook at one end that can catch in the throat if swallowed.

Unripe fruit has a firm outer skin, is hard to the touch, and releases white chicle from the stem when picked.

It also contains high amounts of saponin, which has astringent properties similar to tannin, drying out the mouth. Fully ripe fruit has saggy skin and does not release chicle when picked.